Where to live east of Des Moines?

[El Rhino]

That's up for interpretation too... I know when I'm out during rush hour I'm never thinking "Hey, this isn't bad. At least it isn't DC or LA or something"

[Negotiator75]

Originally Posted by El Rhino

That's up for interpretation too... I know when I'm out during rush hour I'm never thinking "Hey, this isn't bad. At least it isn't DC or LA or something"

It's got to be one of the best cities in its size for least traffic worries. I never see anyone in the Fender Bender turn offs on 80 or, 35 or 235 etc. People drive pretty good for the most part.

But to stay on topic, people in Urbandale are great and more educated than ones in Altoona or the "East Side". In the East Side you get a lot of riff-raff, people that call each other "Bud". They are always like "Hey, Bud". Its annoying, I am sure it comes from Minnesota.

[serate]

Originally Posted by Negotiator75

But to stay on topic, people in Urbandale are great and more educated than ones in Altoona or the "East Side".

whatever

[Northern Traveler]

Originally Posted by Negotiator75

It's got to be one of the best cities in its size for least traffic worries. I never see anyone in the Fender Bender turn offs on 80 or, 35 or 235 etc. People drive pretty good for the most part.

But to stay on topic, people in Urbandale are great and more educated than ones in Altoona or the "East Side". In the East Side you get a lot of riff-raff, people that call each other "Bud". They are always like "Hey, Bud". Its annoying, I am sure it comes from Minnesota.

I have no idea where the Altoona comment came from. Not even going to try with that one...

However - the Des Moines area has their fair share of wrecks everyday, especially during peak rush hours. Just listen to traffic reports on the radio, WHO is one that comes to mind. Seems like the most common are on 235 heading to the western burbs and down in areas like Fleur Dr. by DSM airport.

[MastermindDSM]

I would look in this order
Ankeny (Large suburb slightly farther than the others)
Pleasant Hill (Most suburban of the bottom three)
Altoona (Larger of the three, multiple types of housing and residents and industry heavy)
Boundrant (small town, poised for growth)

Although it hasn't been approved, be sure to keep an eye on the proposed NE Beltway

[christy2]

Altoona is slummy?? I live in Bondurant. Midwesterners, in general, don't allow their property to become slummy. Too much peer pressure. I have a neighbor who didn't mow his lawn for awhile. I called the city, they sent out a letter, and problem solved.

I resent the comment that east siders aren't as educated as those in Urbandale. My hubby has a master's degree and I have an associates degree plus 3 more years of college. Bondurant has many new people moving in as does Altoona. All my friends are well-educated, articulate, and their children are likewise. There are definitely many "soccer" moms on this side of town. Or in my case, "dance mom".

Bondurant students can participate in the swim program at Altoona (Southeast Polk school district) through a program sharing agreement. They can also participate in the agriculture/horticulture program.

Bondurant will be building a new high school which will be open in a couple of years. We have a new superintendent who appears to be doing a fine job. We have a new library and new fire department/sheriff's department building both in the process of being built. I would guess that close to half of the homes here have been built in the last decade as there has been a lot of growth here.

People need to stop stereotyping the east side of Des Moines.

christy

[mofford]

Altoona is not slummy, I ride my bicycle on the east side trail network (24 miles, paved) that altoona is a branch of. Boundurant is nice too, and has a 20 mile trail starting there that goes to Baxter. East des moines looks alot better these days. Lots of old houses were torn down or remodeled with new siding. Noticed that maurry street looks alot better out twards E 30th, area along 4 mile creek trail looks greatly improved. Im in SW des moines but If I had to move to Altoona or Urbandale, I would pick Altoona. The east part of Urbandale by merle hay might be slummy some day, in my opinion. Less traffic, most of your shopping needs, and more down to earth people in Altoona. Looks just a little upscale, like pleasant hill only with its own shopping areas. Urbandale does not have an amusement park either, but probably has better schools.

[joehannes]

Moving from Wisconsin to Ankeny IA, I have found where we are living is a great location to just about anywhere. Schools are close, like 5 minutes or so. Our kids are grown and 2 of them still live in WI and 1 lives in Dexter IA. That is an hour from Ankeny.
Being we are older and our kids are gone, I can't tell you much about the schooling and such BUT we are moving to NC in 2 weeks and we have our townhouse for sale, in Ankeny.
If you like townhouse living and having whatever you need within 5 or 10 minutes and like townhouse living in a community, this would be for you.
Why would you want to move away from NC? Where did you live in NC?
We are moving to Cashiers NC.
Let me know what you think.
Jeanette