Towns/villages near Des Moines (Iowa City, Dubuque: real estate, house, job market)

[swlmc2]

Greetings everyone,
I am currently living in Iowa City, but it is a tough job market here, so I am looking into Des Moines (and also Dubuque).
I would like to find a small town within 20-30 minutes of DSM that has a centralized town center (as opposed to strip mall sprawl). I looked over old threads, but while I saw many towns mentioned as suburbs, I didn't see any mentioned for having a centralized downtown zone.
My priorities are 1) a safe neighborhood 2) access to green space for walking dogs 3) affordability.
I am open to any/all suggestions: this move is very much in the planning stage and the more I know the better I can focus my efforts.
What is parking like in DSM? Where do those of you who commute into DSM park? Are there commuter parking lots or public transportation from the suburbs?
Many thanks!
SW

[DMRyan]

Adel, Winterset and Indianola have traditional town squares, but are a ways from downtown Des Moines. There are several smaller cities in Dallas County that might fit what you're looking for, but my prediction is that these communities like DeSoto and Dallas Center are the next exurban/suburban growth communities. Many of the suburbs around DSM started as either trolley stops or small railroad communities on their own, but never developed the traditional town square type of commercial before becoming too much a part of the Des Moines metro.

As far as parking goes, this is still a city where most drive. Sure, there's bus service, but most large downtown employers go out of their way to make sure their employees have a spot to park in mega parking garages. There are commuter lots for suburban bus service, but you mentioned that you didn't just want to live in a suburb. I don't really think parking is much of an issue unless your employer is flat out not providing parking (very rare).

Take a hard look at Adel if you can live that far out. It's one of the finest little towns in central Iowa (population about 4,500).

[DMRyan]

Here's a few other towns within range you might look at:

-Perry
-Madrid
-Colfax
-Plesantville
-Prairie City or Monroe
-Pella and Boone are just a little further away than 30 minutes, but are both great places too.

By and large anything smaller can be a depressing place IMO. It'll look a lot like rural Iowa, only with the occasional more expensive acreage or subdivision thrown in the closer you get to Des Moines.

[metro223]

Ryan mentioned this one, but I've heard many positive things about Boone, NW of the city.

[swlmc2]

Adel and Indianola look like what I am looking for. I am a little hesitant to move any further out not only because of travel time and difficult winter commutes, but also because I am a little leery of going too small or too rural.
I have heard nothing but good things about Pella and Boone, but I will have to pay a visit and see how the drive is.
This gives me a good place to begin. It is really tempting to just find a house in a good neighborhood in DSM proper, but I miss country/small town living.
Thanks so much. I am sure I will be back with more questions after I do a little investigation on my own.
Best,
SW

[SharpHawkeye]

I think you'd like Adel. It's still got it's small-town charm, good schools, growth but not crazy Waukee style growth (not yet anyway), and it's close enough to DSM to be a fairly easy commute. Plus, I hear the sweet corn festival is loads of fun.


Here's the Dallas County courthouse, which anchors the town square. The pic's from the State Judicial Branch website.

I'm not a huge fan of Indianola, personally. My cousins both went to school there and loved it, but I've always found it a little run down. It's fine and all, but I'd want to live somewhere else if I had my choice.

[metro223]

Very nice courthouse, I need to check out Adel sometime soon!

[swlmc2]

Adel not only has the sweet corn festival, it has a book festival! Hopefully I can find a house there within my budget.

I am planning my visit to Adel and Des Moines the first weekend in March. I am hopeful that the weather will be more agreeable by then...

After looking at DSM real estate, I find myself also considering a bungalow or ranch in Des Moines itself. As a single older woman I need a good established neighborhood, preferably near a large park where I can walk the dogs. Any ideas? I saw some prospects in the Beaverdale area. Are there any other areas I might consider? Are there any areas of DSM that are more "rural" where I might find a larger lot?

I just have to say that I love this board. It is a truly wonderful resource for someone like me Thank you!

[DMRyan]

Des Moines is surrounded by rural, so there's tons of opportunities to have a large lot. Just don't expect to be in the country forever, because the metro is rapidly suburbanizing in almost every direction.

It's hard to narrow down specific neighborhoods that are by a park because there are so many. If you like established neighborhoods, Beaverdale is a good one, as is many areas west of 31st Street on the west side of the city. The south side has pockets of charm as well. There are a lot of parks on the southside, including the biggest and most used parks in the whole city in Gray's Lake and Water Works Park.

[bradandbrit]

Boone or Polk City. I think they're both adorable towns with lots of space. Polk City is a little closer to Des Moines though.