Information on Waukee and Ames Iowa relocating from San Diego (Des Moines: environment, property taxes)

[dctown]

My husband and I are moving to Iowa this August. My Husband is from Iowa (Wellsburg) a very small town.We are moving back because San Diego is over crowded and way to expensive plus all his family is back there and we are ready to buy a house. I have narrowed it down to Ames or Waukee. My husband is not familiar with either one of these towns and was hoping to get some inside information from people who live there. Does anyone have anything good or bad to say about these towns. I'm interested in restaurants,shopping, grocery stores, movies and a nice safe environment to buy our first home. I have chose Waukee and Ames because he works for Coca Cola but if you have any suggestions other then those 2 towns and it's not to far of a commute feel free to let me know. Thank you for your time.

[CAELENSGRAM]

I live in West Des Moines, and Waukee is almost a bedroom community to West Des Moines now. This has caused housing prices and taxes to increase for Waukee. That being said, it is a very nice little town with easy access to West Des Moines and all of the shopping, restaurants, etc. We have a very large shopping mall here, with many of the national stores.

To compare Ames with Waukee, you have to know that Ames is a college town and everything revolves around Iowa State. The school system in Ames is probably superior to Waukee, but Waukee is trying hard to catch up. Because of the college in Ames, housing prices are higher and property taxes are about the same in both locations.

For myself, ( Iowa born ) I would prefer Waukee because it's slower paced but a few minutes takes you to anything you might want to do. Both towns are very child friendly, as are most towns here.

Traffic, prices and road rage are all much lower here than the coast. A traffic jam here means that it takes 20 minutes to get clear across town instead of 10.

Remember that we do have snow, and if you live in Ames and work in Des Moines, that will be a 30-45 minute drive in bad weather and Interstate 35 gets very icy in winter for that commute. However, if you work in Ames, your commute will take minutes.

Good luck with your choice and welcome to Iowa!

[doogy]

Your going to be shocked to see how freezing cold it gets. Winters here are brutal and lasts for 4 to 5 months. I feel sorry for you but I would pick Waukee.

[Luke9686]

If work is in Waukee, you can live pretty much anywhere in the Des Moines Metro. Traffic is pretty much non existent, especially compared to where you are coming from. I recommend West Des Moines, Urbandale (cheaper prop. taxes), Clive, some area of Des Moines.

Commute from any of the places mentioned would take no more than 30 minutes.

[Cat Lady]

We have lived in Van Meter for 7 years. Small town right off of the Interstate. actually closer to Jordan Creek Mall than Waukee. Small town schools..right the main road into the town from I-80 is being replaced.but Highway 90 or Grand Avenue is a parallel road. Nice county park. easy commute..and very friendly town.

[Chicago60614]

Well first of all, it ISN'T freezing cold anywhere near 5 months a year.

March-April is between 40's up to 70's at times.

May-June-July-August-Sept are normally 70 to 90

Oct-Nov are from 40's up through 60's early on

Dec is usually 40's, but can get very cold at times

Jan and Feb are the true freezing months

But anyway, I would recommend Waukee. It's growing, still small, but within minutes of the Des Moines are and it's 550,000 people.

[Luke9686]

Doogy, out of your 6 posts, 4 of them was telling people how brutally cold Iowa is, 1 of them states Iowa is nothing but corn, beans and hogs, and the other 1 is telling someone they moved to the worst possible part of Iowa.

Is there anything about Iowa you like??

Just curious.

[Poolman]

I would look at Urbandale. It has top schools, I believe 8th now in the state and a wonderful community feel. I would highly recommend it. I think Waukee is growing so fast that they are growing too big too fast.

[sobeit2]

I only know one family from Iowa, but they are salt of the earth. If they are typical Iowans? , then you'll love being there.

Thanks to all the posts, I have a feel for that state now.

[dctown]

Thanks so much for everybody's feedback. I'm looking forward to having different seasons and a less crowded slower paced life style.
Dawn Town.