Des Moines or St Louis? (Davenport, Lincoln: for rent, low crime, neighborhood)

[shooeyg]

Im a 24 year old female originally from Davenport, Iowa but joined the military in 2003 and haven't been back to the midwest since. I would like to see some opinions on whether to move to Des Moines or St louis. I want to be fairly close to my family so these two cities seem to make sense, considering Chicago is too expensive. Which city has more to offer as far as night life and general happiness? Thanks!

[CrazyHorsePete]

Both cities are good. I haven't spent a ton of time in St. Louis, but I've been there a few times. It seems like a nice place. Based on personal experiences and what I've read on these forums, I'll try to summarize a little.

Des Moines Pros:
-Healthy economy.
-Low crime.
-Good schools.
-Perfect summers.
-A lot going on for a city of its size.
-Low cost of living.

Des Moines Cons:
-Cold winters, and Des Moines isn't the best at timely snow removal.
-No pro sports.

St. Louis has warmer winters, but also a higher crime rate than Des Moines. I'm sure it also has more nightlife, but keep in mind, it's significantly larger. I'm sure there's someone more familiar with St. Louis who will be able to comment further on it than I can. I came to Des Moines in 2005, and huge strides have been made since that time. Good luck!

[zz4guy]

If Chicago is too expensive then I would choose Des Moines. St. Louis is a big city and it will cost you to gain convenience and a nice neighborhood.

I'm curious why you think Chicago is too expensive though. Where did you want to live, Wrigleyville?

[DSMGuy]

St Louis will give you more extremes. More wealth and more poverty/crime. Bigger things to see and do at a "major league" level.

Des Moines has a lot of things to do for its size. Being the state capital and center of most activities in the state helps that. Most areas of the metro are safe. It is more of a AAA level city, to use a baseball analogy.

St Louis city has the dubious distinction to be one of few cities to have lost half their population in the last few decades, like a another dying city, Detroit. East St Louis is crime ridden. So, you'll want to be very selective where you live there.

[RobertC]

Originally Posted by CrazyHorsePete

Des Moines Cons:
-No pro sports.

Eek! Don't let any Iowa Cubs hear you say that! Minor-league baseball teams are still professional... but pretty much anyone would have understood what you meant, so I guess my whole rebuttal is pretty superfluous.

I've never been to an Iowa Cubs game, but I have watched Triple-A baseball in person and it's still pretty fun. I especially like being able to sit so close to the action for the same price as a third-deck seat at a Major League stadium.

[Northern Traveler]

Originally Posted by shooeyg

Im a 24 year old female originally from Davenport, Iowa but joined the military in 2003 and haven't been back to the midwest since. I would like to see some opinions on whether to move to Des Moines or St louis. I want to be fairly close to my family so these two cities seem to make sense, considering Chicago is too expensive. Which city has more to offer as far as night life and general happiness? Thanks!

Night life? Probably St.Louis

General Happiness? Des Moines is your best bet, and there is night life here too.

[QuadCityImages]

If the QC isn't big enough for you, I'm not sure if Des Moines will be a big enough jump.

[Northern Traveler]

Originally Posted by QuadCityImages

If the QC isn't big enough for you, I'm not sure if Des Moines will be a big enough jump.

Des Moines metro is offers a lot more than the Quad Cities, a bigger downtown, bigger malls and a lot more nightlife.

[DMRyan]

Des Moines and St. Louis really aren't comparable cities since St. Louis is so much larger. If you need the bustle of a much larger city than St. Louis is for you. If you need the amenities of a much larger city but not the bustle, than Des Moines could suit you fine. Des Moines feels bigger than it's population would lead you to believe.

[alwaystraveling25]

Originally Posted by shooeyg

Im a 24 year old female originally from Davenport, Iowa but joined the military in 2003 and haven't been back to the midwest since. I would like to see some opinions on whether to move to Des Moines or St louis. I want to be fairly close to my family so these two cities seem to make sense, considering Chicago is too expensive. Which city has more to offer as far as night life and general happiness? Thanks!

I think the COL in Chicago is a Matter-Of-Opinion. I used to live in Kansas City, and spent a lot of time in Des Moines, KC, and Southern IA, so that's why I check this board!

When I lived in KC, I paid 700 a month for rent, plus utilities. I had a company car, so no cost there. All of the other oddities of living are "average there."

Cut to me living in Chicago this year. My rent is 500 a month higher (1200 a month for a 1BR, but I chose to live 2 blocks from Lake Shore Drive, so that's why it's high), I take Public Transportation everywhere, and I pay basically the same amount for cable, gas, etc. (I have Steam Heat so I get free heat in the winter).

I only make 3,000 more then I did in KC and I am doing fine. Sure, Des Moines or St. Louis makes more sense if you are raising a family, since even the suburbs in Chicago are pricey compared to most, but you can do it here.

You can live in a Studio in Lakeview/Lincoln Park/Wicker Park (or other trendy areas) for 700, a 1BR for 900 if you know where to look. The cost of rent is higher then in IA or MO, but if you factor in not having to own a car, it balances out.

I wouldn't count Chicago out...I was miserable being a single 26 YO in KC (wasn't originally from there), and I am SO happy to be in Chicago...you get the friendly Midwest Vibe I got in Des Moines and other cities, but you have "big city living."