Nashville vs. Iowa City (Brentwood, Sewanee: crime rate, neighborhood, best schools)

[pinkstar757]

I am trying to decide whether to attend graduate school at the University of Iowa or at Vanderbilt University this Fall. I'm from Texas, and my family and friends are skeptical of me moving to Iowa. All anyone has to say about Iowa City is "it's too cold for you there" or "there is nothing but corn there." I guess that one of my reservations about moving to Nashville would be a fear of living in a large city. I would appreciate any information about life in Nashville, driving in the city, and crime rates. Thanks for your help!

[IngleDave]

I did some reading on Iowa City and it seems like a nice, pleasant place to me. I have friends here at work who attended school there. Comparing a metro of 167,000 with one of 1.6 million is difficult at best. I'm not sure where you live in Texas, but think of moving to Nashville as similar to moving to Austin. The good, the bad are probably near the same. Adjusting to a large city isn't that difficult, but if focusing on your education and having things you need close by and comfortable without some of the hassles of city life, maybe I.C. is best. I know this wasn't much help, but these comparison points are just so far apart.

[sfitz]

I grew up near Iowa City and have been going back for many years. Currently I live in a small town in Illinois but am planning on moving to Nashville. Winters in Iowa are cold and long. Summers are hot. If you like football, Iowa City is a great place to be. The Hawkeye fans are fervent. Iowa IS a very good school. When I am in Nashville, it doesn't seem like a large city to me. Living in Iowa City would be a big adjustment weather-wise I think. What is your major?

[pinkstar757]

My major is Biochemistry, but I would be studying Immunology at the University of Iowa. I definitely enjoyed Iowa City while I was interviewing there a couple of weeks ago.

[sfitz]

If you were there a couple of weeks ago then you experienced the weather in Iowa in winter. If you had a good feeling, then go with your feeling. Iowa City is certainly a great medical university.

[Pearlbob]

Iowa City is top notch. It's extremely cultured, very liberal, yet small enough that you don't feel like it's a major city. Tons to do there, not just for undergrads. Lots of museums, unique shopping, restaurants...it's great. it's a college town. Nashville is not, and while Vandy is great, it's completely opposite in terms of lifestyle. The hospitals are on campus at Iowa, the bus system is free and goes all over campus, 24 hours a day. But if you want to drive, it's simple. Yes, it's freezing cold that's the only down side. But it's still hot and warm during spring, summer, and fall. Winter is basically November thru March.

Iowa City crime rates are basiacally zero, other than the normal "public intox" that the kids get. (Typical college town.) there is no crime. Leave doors unlocked, car windows down. Nashville has a high crime rate in the US, not necessarily near Vandy, but overall.

Go Hawks!

[MichaelBNA]

Originally Posted by Pearlbob

Iowa City is top notch. It's extremely cultured, very liberal, yet small enough that you don't feel like it's a major city. Tons to do there, not just for undergrads. Lots of museums, unique shopping, restaurants...it's great. it's a college town. Nashville is not, and while Vandy is great, it's completely opposite in terms of lifestyle. The hospitals are on campus at Iowa, the bus system is free and goes all over campus, 24 hours a day. But if you want to drive, it's simple. Yes, it's freezing cold that's the only down side. But it's still hot and warm during spring, summer, and fall. Winter is basically November thru March.

Iowa City crime rates are basiacally zero, other than the normal "public intox" that the kids get. (Typical college town.) there is no crime. Leave doors unlocked, car windows down. Nashville has a high crime rate in the US, not necessarily near Vandy, but overall.

Go Hawks!

I respectfully disagree with you and would love to see some facts to back up your claims made in the post above. I find it terribly hard to imagine a small city being considerably more liberal than a city that typically votes straight democrat in the elections and has as many people as we do. Please expound on your claims.

If I remember correctly, Vandy is very liberal and easily one of the best schools in the country. Our crime rate is not that high at all and to compare it to a city with just over 100,000 people is a stretch at best. Especially saying it's bad in the overall city? Come on! That's just very uninformed posting and to see it from a "mod" is depressing.

[bluesky42day]

MichaelBNA, I don't have a dog in this fight but I think Pearlbob was just stating that Iowa City is liberal in general, not really saying that it's more liberal than Nashville.

To the OP I think that Nashville is as big of a city as you want to make it. It can feel very small town to people that just stay in their neighborhood. If you lived near Vandy you wouldn't have to have a car so if driving in a city is something that concerns you I'd say don't worry about it. I believe Vandy students get free admission on the metro busses but between walking & biking you really don't need a car in that area.

As far as crime rates in the Vandy area, I don't have hard facts but I personally would feel VERY safe there. It's not to say that I would leave my doors unlocked but I wouldn't do that in Iowa City regardless of crime rates.

[Pimpy]

Originally Posted by Pearlbob

Iowa City crime rates are basiacally zero, other than the normal "public intox" that the kids get. (Typical college town.) there is no crime. Leave doors unlocked, car windows down. Nashville has a high crime rate in the US, not necessarily near Vandy, but overall.

Attention all criminals! Unlocked doors and car windows abound in Iowa City! Now you know. Go get 'em!

On a serious note, this is just not good advice for anywhere. The only time I've ever had my car broken into was on my "safe" college campus (Sewanee) where this kind of advice was doled out regularly. Be smart and sensible and your chances of being a victim are much lower no matter where you live.

[Pearlbob]

After living in IC for many years, I may not have #'s, but I know the experience! I'm not saying Vandy isn't liberal. Iowa City is overall an extremely liberal city. Human rights, gay rights, art, women's rights...it gets over-run with demonstrations, sit ins, etc a lot All of IC is like that, as opposed to Nashville, where you have to admit...is Brentwood the same demographic as Vandy grad students? My point is that IC is very small and no matter where you are, you're around the same type of people. Yet in Nashville, you aren't going to necessarily live RIGHT next to Vandy and you're going to deal with a lot of different viewpoints. Which is good, of course. But Nashville is not a small college town, it's a large city with a million different cultures, people, etc.

I am not being uninformed. The poster asked about crime rates in the 2 cities. So...I compared them. ??

Originally Posted by MichaelBNA

I respectfully disagree with you and would love to see some facts to back up your claims made in the post above. I find it terribly hard to imagine a small city being considerably more liberal than a city that typically votes straight democrat in the elections and has as many people as we do. Please expound on your claims.

If I remember correctly, Vandy is very liberal and easily one of the best schools in the country. Our crime rate is not that high at all and to compare it to a city with just over 100,000 people is a stretch at best. Especially saying it's bad in the overall city? Come on! That's just very uninformed posting and to see it from a "mod" is depressing.