Best suburb of Des Moines? (West Des Moines, Johnston: houses, rent, high school)

[bradandbrit]

In my opinion, West Des Moines is just full of yuppies that are competing for the best lawn and best looking kids on the block. I think Clive, Johnston and Urbandale are more down-to-earth sububs with better priced property. Ankeny is just ok. I know a couple people who live in Polk City and like the small town feeling for a little longer commute (20-25 minutes). Same goes to Winterset, small town living with longer commute depending on where work is. I live in Des MOines itself and love it! When I have more kids and decide to move it will probably be to Urbandale or Johnston. Good luck!

[nanjosbrand]

I would stick with Urbandale. The people I've met there have always been friendly and I've always felt pretty safe around there.

[metro223]

Originally Posted by bradandbrit

In my opinion, West Des Moines is just full of yuppies that are competing for the best lawn and best looking kids on the block. I think Clive, Johnston and Urbandale are more down-to-earth sububs with better priced property. Ankeny is just ok. I know a couple people who live in Polk City and like the small town feeling for a little longer commute (20-25 minutes). Same goes to Winterset, small town living with longer commute depending on where work is. I live in Des MOines itself and love it! When I have more kids and decide to move it will probably be to Urbandale or Johnston. Good luck!

I really really see what you are saying, but even in this case it wouldn't make sense to generalize. There are a lot of great Iowa people even in the richest areas of the city. (BTW Clive is actually pricier than West DM I believe)

[El Rhino]

Originally Posted by metro223

. (BTW Clive is actually pricier than West DM I believe)

You are correct, sir. Clive has the highest average real estate prices in the metro area. WDM might have some of the most expensive homes with Glen Oaks though.

[Dan Castello]

Originally Posted by bradandbrit

In my opinion, West Des Moines is just full of yuppies that are competing for the best lawn and best looking kids on the block. I think Clive, Johnston and Urbandale are more down-to-earth sububs with better priced property. Ankeny is just ok. I know a couple people who live in Polk City and like the small town feeling for a little longer commute (20-25 minutes). Same goes to Winterset, small town living with longer commute depending on where work is. I live in Des Moines itself and love it! When I have more kids and decide to move it will probably be to Urbandale or Johnston. Good luck!

I have been out of Iowa for many years but don't ever recall Winterset being considered a suburb or bedroom community of Des Moines. If that is the current perception, then the attitudes in the metro DM area have changed dramatically.

[iaborn42]

I have been out of Iowa for many years but don't ever recall Winterset being considered a suburb or bedroom community of Des Moines. If that is the current perception, then the attitudes in the metro DM area have changed dramatically.


Well I lived out of IA also for awhile and moved back and now live in Winterset. For someone working on the west side, the commute from Winterset in is about the same through the commuting traffic from one side of Des Moines to the other. I can get from Winterset to the Jordan Creek area in 25 minutes.

I don't have all the hub bub of the city but still am in very easy reach of the city. We have a lot of people who commute to Des Moines everyday and there is a lot of growth down here.

[DMRyan]

It doesn't feel like the city down in Madison County, but it is now officially part of the Des Moines metro according to the Census Bureau.

[metro223]

Originally Posted by DMRyan

It doesn't feel like the city down in Madison County, but it is now officially part of the Des Moines metro according to the Census Bureau.

That's why I think calling something an MSA is somewhat deceiving. They basically go by how many people in that county commute into the city instead of urban population.

[SharpHawkeye]

It's strange to think about, but Winterset might actually be a bedroom community of West Des Moines. Not knowing much about the subject of MSA's I looked it up on Wikipedia (shameful, I know ). It says that Guthrie and Madison counties were added to the Des Moines-West Des Moines MSA in 2003 after the definition of MSA's was changed?

Now I would consider Guthrie County's connection to Des Moines more than a little iffy...but I guess the numbers are there to back it up.

[hockeymomma8]

Lived in Bondurant a few years ago and loved it, but it has grown a lot.