Des Moines, IABest Places to Live in the US in 2022

Des Moines has a strong business climate. The largest industries include financial services, insurance, government, manufacturing, health care, trade and services.

Des Moines University, Drake University, Grand View University & Des Moines Area Community College 

Des Moines has all four seasons with hot and humid summers, cold winters and frequent thunderstorms. 

Des Moines is blessed with 75 public parks, and Raccoon River Park is one of the best. City officials turned an open-pit gravel mine into what is now the 232-acre Blue Heron Lake and wetlands. Park visitors can kayak, fish, swim, bike, hike, practice archery or simply enjoy a picnic.

The average rent and home costs are well below the national average in Des Moines. Although Iowa’s population as a state has decreased over the recent years, Des Moines has seen an uptick in employment in the past year, with estimated growth in the coming years. Local coworking spaces include Gravitate Coworking, Collaborate DSM and a Regus branch.

The locally owned Beaverdale Books does more than sell books. The shop offers a cozy refuge for book lovers by hosting author events, book clubs and writers’ groups. 

Spend Saturday at the Downtown Farmers Market browsing 300 vendors while loading up on fresh veggies, locally baked pastries, hot coffee, and homemade arts and crafts. For more than 40 years, the lively market has connected Des Moines residents with the state’s rural communities. 

Established in 1948, the Des Moines Art Center is a world-class art museum with an extensive collection of paintings, sculptures, modern art and mixed media. Three distinct buildings, each designed by world-renowned architects (Eliel Saarinen, I. M. Pei and Richard Meier), house the museum’s immense contemporary art collection. The free daily admission is just the cherry on top.

Jasper Winery is an estate-style urban winery just minutes from downtown where you can pair wine and cheese, take in the scenery from the patio, and listen to live music.

Downtown Des Moines’ Water Works Park encompasses nearly 1,500 acres of open wooded area, making it larger than New York City’s Central Park and one of the largest urban parks in the United States.  

A low cost of living, a strong job market and a fantastic arts scene make Des Moines a best place to live in Iowa.

Considered one of the most livable cities in the Midwest, the state capital of Iowa is filled with safe, walkable neighborhoods, over 4,000 acres of parkland, and a housing market booming with new construction and development. The Des Moines homes for sale are quickly gaining popularity, yet the median home price remains at a desirable $191K, and homes stay in the market for around five days. The Des Moines real estate market has plenty of existing dwellings for all tastes and budgets, but families prefer the new single-detached homes available in northern suburban communities like Capitol Heights, while buyers in their twenties are moving to the brand-new condos in the Historic East Village district and other trendy downtown locations. For more information about the market in this city, contact a local real estate agent.