Dyersville, IA-the good, the bad & the ugly?? (Des Moines, Cedar Rapids: ski resort, rent)

[snowdancer]

We're going to be moving to the Dubuque area by mid October for my husband to take a job at IBM.
We currently live in the West Des Moines area so at least it's an in state move.

Since we're fond of a more rural, peaceful place to live, we've been considering the Dyersville area. All we know about it is what we've read online & in the tourist magazines. We are going over this weekend to actually check out the area.

Can anyone give us an idea if the commute between Dyersville & the new downtown IBM facility in Dubuque is a reasonable commute; especially in the winter? We prefer a commute of no more than 40 mins one way on average.

Are there areas of Dyersville to avoid?

Many more rural areas of the US have drug problems, how do you feel Dyersville compares-do they have a large drug problem or is it pretty quiet there?

Are the people welcoming of new people?

Is there much to do in the area? Fishing, flea or farmers markets, craft shows, festivals, decent restaurants?

Thanks for any help or opinions you can give me.

Kathy

[jasperhobbs]

Originally Posted by snowdancer

We're going to be moving to the Dubuque area by mid October for my husband to take a job at IBM.
We currently live in the West Des Moines area so at least it's an in state move.

Since we're fond of a more rural, peaceful place to live, we've been considering the Dyersville area. All we know about it is what we've read online & in the tourist magazines. We are going over this weekend to actually check out the area.

Can anyone give us an idea if the commute between Dyersville & the new downtown IBM facility in Dubuque is a reasonable commute; especially in the winter? We prefer a commute of no more than 40 mins one way on average.

Are there areas of Dyersville to avoid?

Many more rural areas of the US have drug problems, how do you feel Dyersville compares-do they have a large drug problem or is it pretty quiet there?

Are the people welcoming of new people?

Is there much to do in the area? Fishing, flea or farmers markets, craft shows, festivals, decent restaurants?

Thanks for any help or opinions you can give me.

Kathy

Dyersville is a nice quiet community with very low crime. I would not call the people welcoming. Town has the reputation as snobbish. Town does have some decent places to shop and eat.

Commute to downtown Dubuque in 40 minutes might be pushing it. Depends on traffic and winter driving conditions. A town you might want to look into is Cascade. Cheaper to buy or rent a house and not a bad commute. It is a very small town though.

Jasper

[kt7569]

Kathy,
You are going to love Eastern Iowa and all its beauty - especially with the changing of the leaves. It would be about 45 min drive from Dyersville to your husband's work. Hwy 20 is 4 lane and synorized lights in Dubuque make it a lot easier to get through. Dyersville is a small community that takes pride in itself with a low drug & crime rate. It is a town that is not 'snobish' which was a sterotype from years and years ago. The people are very friendly as it is a tourist town - Field of Dreams, Basilica of St. Francis, National Farm Toy Museum, Heritage Trail begins in Dyersville and goes to Dubuque & Dyersville has a lot of places to eat and great shops too! There is always something going on: huge fireworks display, farmers' market, craft & quilt show (9/26 & 27), street dances, #1 library in the nation (in population 2,500 - 5,000), Wimming pool, Rec Center. Check out the city website www.cityofdyersville.com or the Chamber's www.dyersville.org

[breck07]

I commute to downtown Dubuque from Dyersville everyday. An easy 4 lane Highway with controlled access-35 minutes! I love the quiet and secure feeling of the small, friendly town where you can get to know so many people yet have the additional entertainment options so close at hand. In Dyersville, you also have a quick trip to Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, etc. to even broaden your entertainment options. You have everything you need in Dyersville with a variety of restaurants, grocery stores, hardware, home furnishings, gifts, unique shops plus all of the amenities including a 26 mile hiking/biking trail to Dubuque, a beautiful winery, and ski resort within minutes. I moved to Dyersville when I was in my late 20's and I have never been happier. GREAT place to raise a family, too.

[mmariel]

Kathy,
I've recently moved to Dyersville within the past few weeks and I can assure you I have been extremely welcomed into the community.

The drive to Dubuque isn't bad because of the four lane traffic. Many people I've met here in town make the commute daily.

There really aren't any bad parts of Dyersville. I like to walk when I finished with work and have explored every corner of the community and feel perfectly at ease. In a community of only 4,000 I've also discovered that the residents here really do take pride in assuring their community stays safe and pleasant. The yards and homes are always well kept, I don't think I've even encountered a vacant lot or home.

I found there's always something going on in Dyersville as well. The Library (James Kennedy Public Library) has been a great source for activities and they have a really great rec center. As the previous person had noted they're a tourist town so there's generally a lot of activities. As far as the specific activities you asked about there is an antique flea market coming up September 13th at the Plaza Antique Mall, and the Festival of the Arts Craft & Quilt Show is being held the last weekend of September if you're looking for good times to visit. There are also a lot of great shops and resturants in town as well.

[JBoughton]

Are you Catholic? If not, you're going to be in a distinct minority in a town where 95% of the residents are. A town of 4000 that doesn't have a public school (although there's some talk of building one).

[Chicago60614]

Dyersville is definitely quite Catholic. Although not the 95%, the latest survery found 64% of people there Catholic, around 15% Protestant, and 21% non-religious.


It's actually the largest city in Iowa with the public schools being in a neighboring town (as opposed to directly in that town).

The K-1 public school is actually in Dyersville, but then the 2-5 public school and the middle school are both in Farley, about 10 minutes east of Dyersville, and the High School is in Epworth, about 15 minutes east of Dyersville.

[SharpHawkeye]

Originally Posted by Chicago60614

Dyersville is definitely quite Catholic. Although not the 95%, the latest survery found 64% of people there Catholic, around 15% Protestant, and 21% non-religious.


It's actually the largest city in Iowa with the public schools being in a neighboring town (as opposed to directly in that town).

The K-1 public school is actually in Dyersville, but then the 2-5 public school and the middle school are both in Farley, about 10 minutes east of Dyersville, and the High School is in Epworth, about 15 minutes east of Dyersville.

Hmmmm... That is a very odd situation. I assume it's one of those "alphabet districts". I wonder how it came to be like that.

[Chicago60614]

Originally Posted by SharpHawkeye

Hmmmm... That is a very odd situation. I assume it's one of those "alphabet districts". I wonder how it came to be like that.

I think it's the strong catholic population in the city. There are very popular and respected private schools in Dyersville. All have hundreds of students.

It's more of a demand thing...

[snowdancer]

I wanted to thank everyone for their comments.

We went to Dyersville as well as Dubuque over the Labor Day weekend & really liked the eastern side of the state.
Everyone we encountered in Dyersville was very pleasant and helpful. Dubuque is quite a bit smaller than the Des Moines metro area from what I could tell but it seemed to be a friendly town.

We found a place in Dyersville and will be moving there at the beginning of October. I'm so excited to start this new chapter, we've already met a few of the neighbors plus we've been invited to a cookout before the snow flies.

To those who were concerned about the Catholic factor; both of us were raised Catholic although we are no longer practicing but at least we know the dogma well so we should be fine from a religious standpoint.

Thanks again!