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Des Moines metro v Iowa City metro

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Windlooker

Well-Known Member
If you could live in Des Moines metro or Iowa City metro which would you choose and why? Both offer a ton. It would be a tough call.
 
I've never lived in the DSM area, but I've spent way too long in the IC metro. I guess it all depends on what one is looking for.

DSM has a bigger airport with more and cheaper flights. My sister always flies in from Phoenix to DSM. I'm not going to drive to DSM to catch a flight, I will pay a little more to fly out of CID (occasionally fly out of Moline instead).

Not many people taking advantage of the IC metro archery deer hunt, for a variety of reasons. Too many regulations on the hunt to wade through the red tape, then try to find access. They designed it that way, IMO, to keep hiring White Buffalo to sharpshoot them, as the locals prefer that approach. I'd be worried about getting the tires of the vehicle slashed while hunting the IC metro area.

Not a fan of "the arts". I've never attended a Hancher Auditorium event during the 35+ years in the area. DSM gets better concerts. Need to go up to Cedar Rapids/Moline to catch a concert in eastern Iowa.

More bars and restaurants in DSM, plus they are not all centered around college students. Coralville is getting better for bars/restaurants/events, but IC will continue to lag behind. Coralville is cheaper on housing and cost of living over IC, and Tiffin and North Liberty are exploding. Maybe one should look at North Liberty instead of IC. I saw a list of most expensive cities in Iowa last week and the DSM metro area was close to the top if not #1.
 
DSM!!!!!!!!!! Way less whackos & weirdos than IC!!! Des Moines gonna be far more conservative & IC is more liberal. Like above stated - it’s a college town. Clearly both are gonna have great things & “not so great”. I’ve spent a ton of time in both…. IMHO- I think Des Moines is a bit more friendly & more opportunities…. I’d avoid the south side of Des Moines. Jobs & growth also gonna be more in Des Moines. Last - I personally think closer to better hunting in Des Moines & less pressure than IC in general.
& yes- pry a bit more expensive in Des Moines. I’d rent before figuring out what to buy.
My 2 cents.
 
Windlooker said:
Ames isn’t far from DSM. Any libtard spill over there??
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The Iowa Board of Regents just called for the cessation of DEI initiatives at all Iowa public universities (Iowa, Iowa State and Northern Iowa). So I guess they felt Ames wasn't immune.
 
Des Moines all day. Better shopping, restaurants, more jobs and if you drive 40-60 minutes in about any direction you can find good hunting ground.

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CurtisWalker said:
I lived in Ames the last 6ish years bunch of libs. However they are all still scared of covid so you never have to interact with them. I just moved out of Ames but will still work at the liberal college they call ISU


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Liberal sure, but compared to some college towns I've been to such as Ann Arbor, Ames might as well be Trump headquarters. Point being, others are WAY WAY worse.
 
IowaBowHunter1983 said:
Liberal sure, but compared to some college towns I've been to such as Ann Arbor, Ames might as well be Trump headquarters. Point being, others are WAY WAY worse.
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Being an Ag college helps that a lot. Farm kids studying animal science, ag business, agronomy, etc. tend to be far more normal than the weirdos studying "queer studies" or whatever lib bs is available. So ISU>U of I in that regard. And every regard in my opinion! :)
 
To answer the original post. I'd say DSM by a long shot.

More dining, entertainment, and job opportunities. Can still be in the middle of nowhere in about 30-40 minutes from the epicenter of Des Moines. Culturally it is way more my speed than Iowa City. Living options are plentiful, I'd stay away from the south side and east side. Everything else is pretty good. Lots of the smaller communities scattered around the outskirts are great and give the small town feel but are 10 minutes from "the city". Granger, Madrid, Polk City, Bondurant, Carlisle, Norwalk, Adel, Dallas Center, etc. All great little towns that are growing and have a lot to offer without feeling like you are in Des Moines and you can still be anywhere worth while in like 30 minutes.

Not even close for me. Des Moines metro, easily. I might be biased though, ha.
 
Forgot to put which I’d choose. Having lived in both I would choose Iowa City for the smaller town feel compared to Des Moines metro. 20-30 minutes out I’d be hard pressed to not choose Des Moines from a hunting perspective.
 
CurtisWalker said:
I lived in Ames the last 6ish years bunch of libs. However they are all still scared of covid so you never have to interact with them. I just moved out of Ames but will still work at the liberal college they call ISU


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Just cough a lot when you’re around them. The little Karen’s will flee. A good sneeze just adds to their terror
 
My son had a conversation last week with a waitress in Iowa City. He ask her about things to do in Iowa City for kids. She mentioned a few thing then said the was an event at the library she really wanted to take her 5yr old daughter to but missed it.
It was story time read by drag queens. OMG
 
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