Ames or Iowa City? (Cedar Rapids, Davenport: appointed, co-op, how much)

[megonow]

I am an older woman (not stereotypical) who is looking for a good place to live for the rest of my life.

I want a liberal, interesting, affordable, culturally rich, and car free town or city or town. Someone recommended Ames or Iowa City.

I welcome opinions

thank you

[missjean_34]

Iowa City has a thriving Elderly population! I would definately reccommend it over Ames.

[iowegian]

I second the recommendation of Iowa City.

Liberal: big check. Iowa City is the most liberal place in Iowa. We get campaign stops from every Democratic candidate for President on a pretty regular basis.

Interesting, culturally rich: For Iowa, I'd say it's culturally rich. It might not measure up to a larger metropolitan area, but we have our fair share of culture. We have plays, concerts, and comedians come fairly regularly to venues such as the Englert Theater or Hancher. (Once it re-opens anyway, the Iowa River flooded it and a few other University buildings this summer.) We have the Jazz Festival each summer and several gallery walks year-round where you can walk around and see all the art galleries downtown. There is also the Iowa City Arts Festival each year. There are a few historical sites and museums to see around the area if you're interested, such as the Old Capitol, Plum Grove, maybe the Amanas, the Hoover Library, and the UI Art Museum. (when it re-opens)
Here is a website that lists some of the events occurring in the Iowa City-Cedar Rapids area soon: Cultural Corridor

Affordable: That depends on what you consider affordable. Iowa in general is one of the cheapest places to live in the US, but Iowa City is one of its more expensive areas. The average home price here is $159,000 according to CNNMoney.com.

Car-free: Tough for any city in Iowa, but Iowa City does have its own bus service as well as Cambus (link: Transit - Home) and there are many people who walk or bike to work each day. While I wouldn't exactly recommend living car-free in Iowa period, you might be able to find a home in downtown where you could walk to a grocery store (New Pioneer Co-Op is on the east side of downtown, on Van Buren, and there is a smaller Bread Market store at Gilbert & Burlington) and where you wouldn't be too far from the cultural amenities, restaurants, and small shops downtown. There will be a lot of college students around if you live in that area. I would suggest living on a bus route, there is a map available at the address I gave you earlier in this paragraph.\

If you have any questions about the Iowa City area, feel free to ask. I can try to help you as much as I can.

I've never lived in Ames, but I'd guess that it would be a fine choice as well, I personally just prefer Iowa City myself. (But I'm biased...) Either way, I'm sure you won't be disappointed. Good luck in your search

[QuadCityImages]

Out of those 2, I'd say Iowa City. However, almost everything iowegian said about Iowa City could be said about Davenport and the Quad Cities as well. We don't have the university, but we are 45 minutes closer to Chicago.

Seems like you should take a trip to Iowa and tour a few cities to decide which area you like best.

[SharpHawkeye]

Davenport and the Quad Cities are not the same as Iowa City, no matter how much you may wish that to be the case. Not as walkable, not as progressive, not as cultural, not as young, not as green, not as exciting.

[megonow]

Thanks for the info and the discussion

I will visit but this really helps.

[QuadCityImages]

Originally Posted by SharpHawkeye

Davenport and the Quad Cities are not the same as Iowa City, no matter how much you may wish that to be the case. Not as walkable, not as progressive, not as cultural, not as young, not as green, not as exciting.

All of those, except "young" are opinions. Of course a college town is more young. I think you'd be surprised on some of the others. Parts of Iowa City are very walkable, parts of the QC are very walkable, while some parts of Iowa City are very car-oriented, and the same is true of the QC. We have a vast amount of cultural amenities and progressive policies, but there's this stigma that Iowa City is the only progressive city in Iowa. In my opinion, its simply untrue.

[mfrerkes]

QC not cultural? The Figge is as good or better than any art venue you'll find in Iowa City. The Adler Theatre and iWireless Center attract far more world-reknowned performers than any two venues you'll find in the Iowa City area. Does Iowa City have any type of musical event like the Mississippi Valley Blues Festival, which is regarded as one of the top blues fests in the nation? I also don't recall Iowa City having any facility comparable to the Putnam/IMAX.

QC not walkable? The Hilltop area in Rock Island along 18th Avenue between 30th and 38th streets is very walkable, with just about every kind of business situated in that neighborhood. There are three mass transit systems in the Quad Cities...and my car spent all of last summer parked outside my house. I never had to drive to work or to shop.

These negative stereotypes about the Quad Cities are propagated by people who have never lived here.

[IowaCowgirl]

I have degrees from both universities (ISU and U of Ia) and loved both areas. I definitely think you can find liberals in Ames (I am one!!).

The benefits of both are the obvious ones of great arts and entertainment, great food and coffeehouses, ....possibly the geographical terrain of Iowa City is more exciting: near the Mississippi, but Ames has the Skunk River area. If you are affiliated with educational institutions in any way, Ames has a beautiful campus and Iowa City's is poor and lots of party-ers.

What are your interest?


IowaCowgirl
www.countryschoolretreat.110mb.com

[Northern Traveler]

I'm not even a lib. but I would recommend Iowa City. Much nicer community IMO.