Small cities and towns (Des Moines, Ames: for sale, low crime, home)

[wtravl]

I have been looking at Iowa as a state of possible relocation and was hoping you all could help me with some suggestions.

This May I'll be graduating with a degree in Agronomy and look forward to gaining employment in the area of crop consulting services, or possibly becoming a crop research assistant or technician. From what I've seen so far, Iowa has a strong market for both of these potential careers.

I have a general idea of what I'm looking for, but need some places to start somewhere with my research. These characteristics below are listed from most to least important.

First, I'm looking for places with a population under 20,000 but more than 1,000. I've lived in cities and towns on both sides of the population spectrum and this is my preferred population range and would like to find a rural place in a happy medium of these two.

Low crime rate. This is a strong factor that will play into my final choice. From living where crime was everywhere, all the time to relocating two years ago to a place where it hardly exists, I'll choose the hardly exist option every time.

A strong agricultural job market that willingly employs people that aren't from around the area. The hardest problem I've had in the little town I'm in now is that they're not very open to people who are not native to the town, much less the state. To get work without being born and raised in the area, you generally need to commute to the closest city. Qualifications don't mean anything as everyone hires from within their family or will take up one of their longtime friends or friend's kids and train them instead of taking an "outsider".

Nearby cities or towns with stores and medical services. I'm not a person who needs a city for entertainment everyday or weekend (I'm more of a homebody than anything), but I would like one that does have a few larger stores and good medical services/doctors available when needed. If there was just a Walmart (or similar retail store) and grocery store within driving distance I'd be a happy person.

Good public or private schools available. While I don't have children at this time, I'd still like a place that is doing well academically so that if I do have children in the future the local schools of the area will hopefully still be doing well and a viable option.

Having rural land available at a reasonable cost is desirable. I'm not looking for "steal" prices by any means, just fair prices for what is available. The location where I am currently is almost all rural, but land is very hard to come by. On those rare occasions when someone does sell it instead of passing it on within their family, the prices are set ridiculously high when considering the acreage, quality and features of and on that land. Usually land here when put up for sale it is on the market for a long time due to this factor.

Politically, preferably looking for a place that is moderate to moderate-conservative. Spent a lot of my life in a strongly democratic area and am currently living in a conservative minded area. Would like a little more balance between the political ideologies, but I'd be willing to live in an area that is predominantly one or the other if it was a good town. This isn't a huge choice factor.

Religious tolerance and diversity of denominations would be nice. I've lived in towns that were strongly protestant, catholic, or baptist with one denomination being prominent and others either struggling or totally nonexistent. This isn't going to make a world of difference in my choice, but its one that would be nice to have if possible.

I'm open to any suggestions and recommendations and appreciate everyone that gives input .

[demtion35]

Worthington Minnesota, on the Border of Iowa. Pure farm country and many of the small towns that are nearby including the ones in Iowa.
I was employed on a dairy farm down here in Worthington once many years ago.
Tons of small villiages in the area you would be smack dab in the middle of all of them.
Huge farms, farming communities.
Thanks

[wtravl]

Thank you

I hadn't given much thought to Minnesota's agriculture before. I'll have to start looking into it and the town you recommended.

[IowaTexasDC Guy]

Originally Posted by wtravl

I have been looking at Iowa as a state of possible relocation and was hoping you all could help me with some suggestions.

This May I'll be graduating with a degree in Agronomy and look forward to gaining employment in the area of crop consulting services, or possibly becoming a crop research assistant or technician. From what I've seen so far, Iowa has a strong market for both of these potential careers.

I have a general idea of what I'm looking for, but need some places to start somewhere with my research. These characteristics below are listed from most to least important.

First, I'm looking for places with a population under 20,000 but more than 1,000. I've lived in cities and towns on both sides of the population spectrum and this is my preferred population range and would like to find a rural place in a happy medium of these two.

Low crime rate. This is a strong factor that will play into my final choice. From living where crime was everywhere, all the time to relocating two years ago to a place where it hardly exists, I'll choose the hardly exist option every time.

A strong agricultural job market that willingly employs people that aren't from around the area. The hardest problem I've had in the little town I'm in now is that they're not very open to people who are not native to the town, much less the state. To get work without being born and raised in the area, you generally need to commute to the closest city. Qualifications don't mean anything as everyone hires from within their family or will take up one of their longtime friends or friend's kids and train them instead of taking an "outsider".

Nearby cities or towns with stores and medical services. I'm not a person who needs a city for entertainment everyday or weekend (I'm more of a homebody than anything), but I would like one that does have a few larger stores and good medical services/doctors available when needed. If there was just a Walmart (or similar retail store) and grocery store within driving distance I'd be a happy person.

Good public or private schools available. While I don't have children at this time, I'd still like a place that is doing well academically so that if I do have children in the future the local schools of the area will hopefully still be doing well and a viable option.

Having rural land available at a reasonable cost is desirable. I'm not looking for "steal" prices by any means, just fair prices for what is available. The location where I am currently is almost all rural, but land is very hard to come by. On those rare occasions when someone does sell it instead of passing it on within their family, the prices are set ridiculously high when considering the acreage, quality and features of and on that land. Usually land here when put up for sale it is on the market for a long time due to this factor.

Politically, preferably looking for a place that is moderate to moderate-conservative. Spent a lot of my life in a strongly democratic area and am currently living in a conservative minded area. Would like a little more balance between the political ideologies, but I'd be willing to live in an area that is predominantly one or the other if it was a good town. This isn't a huge choice factor.

Religious tolerance and diversity of denominations would be nice. I've lived in towns that were strongly protestant, catholic, or baptist with one denomination being prominent and others either struggling or totally nonexistent. This isn't going to make a world of difference in my choice, but its one that would be nice to have if possible.

I'm open to any suggestions and recommendations and appreciate everyone that gives input .

LOL....You just described ALL of Iowa outside of a few cities. Land is cheaper in So. IA and it is more challenging to farm cause its hilly. If you speak "AG", any small town will accept you.

[Daniel01]

The town that best fits your criteria is Boone, population of 12,000. It lies just west of Ames, home of Iowa State University which has the top Agronomy program in the world. It is also only 40 minutes north of Des Moines.

It meets every single criteria you listed. Check it out...and if you decide to move there (or close by), then drop me a line and we'll take you out to dinner to welcome you to the area!

[SharpHawkeye]

I would definitely second Boone as something you might want to look at.

I would also look at the Pella area (around 10,000). Vermeer is a big presence in town, if that's the line of work you're in. Pretty conservative area to boot.

Pella Chamber - Home

Vermeer's company website

Do you specialize in one kind of agriculture? Northern/Central Iowa is flatter and mostly row crops, Southern Iowa is hilly and mostly livestock. I think there's some dairy in North/Northeast Iowa.

[plowman]

Yep, I'd say Boone fits the bill too. Great little city! And you get to ride the train. Woooo Hoooo!!!!!!