Moving to Fort Dodge (Webster City, Humboldt: real estate market, rental, waterparks)

[HawkinDC]

My husband and I are original Iowans relocating back to Fort Dodge- we are from Eastern Iowa and have never visited this area. I have heard a lot about how sad and depressed this area is and we need to find a nice, upper middle class neighborhood with low crime. I have seen some nice things about the Snell Park area. I would love some feedback about this neighborhood or other good places to buy a house and raise kids.
Thanks!

[DMRyan]

The NE and North Central parts of town are the cleanest parts of town to live in. Since it's a depressed real estate market, you could probably make a good offer on a decent 1970's or 1980's built home in a middle class area on the NE side and come out OK.

If you prefer historic houses, there are some decent historic neighborhoods north of downtown, but it can be pretty hit or miss. You can tell that some streets have pretty much been relegated to rental ghettos. Do not live south of 5th Avenue South, which is the main drag through town. It's crammed between industrial areas and the more traditionally high crime part of town.

It seems like most of the more well-heeled Fort Dodgers that have stayed behind have either headed out to build their dream acreage in the nearby countryside or moved up to Humboldt 15 minutes up the road. If you don't mind a 25 minute commute to Fort Dodge, Webster City is a neat town of around 9,000 nearby. It's facing the future closing of the Electrolux Plant though, which is the town's biggest employer.

[Dodgerdude]

Fort Dodge is not as sad and depressed as many make it out to be. There are plenty of nice areas in Ft. Dodge.

The Snell Park area of town and northward and eastward are all nice areas. There is a nice newer subdivision on the north end of town (near the intersection of N. 22nd St. and 25th Ave. N) which is close to shopping. You also may want to check out the Country Club on the W. side of town, though it is farther (relatively speaking) from shopping.

It seems that Ft. Dodge is also trying to improve its image as the city has bought up many "eyesores" and has a plan to improve 5th Ave. S. as well as downtown. Additionally, Ft. Dodge is building one of the best waterparks in the state on the NE end of town near N. 32ND ST and 10TH AVE. N.

Humboldt is a clean little town, but lacks shopping except for your grocery store(s) so you would have to drive to FT. Dodge a lot. The same is true for Webster City except there is nothing nice about Webster City. I honestly don't have a clue what the previous poster is talking about when he says it's "nice". You couldn't pay me to live in Webster City. If Ft. Dodge is sad and depressed, then Webster City is in a state of habitual meloncholy.