You know you’re living in a city with brighter prospects than anywhere else if a credible publication puts your area in the top spot for its annual Best Places for Business and Careers list. That’s just what happened to Des Moines, Iowa which jumped from seventh position a year ago in Forbes Magazine’s 12th consecutive tally. Middle America has gained ground after once top spots for commerce flunked out in the midst of the recession. According to the report, “The top of this year’s list is filled with cities in so-called flyover states, areas with reasonable business costs, strong economic outlooks and a solid quality of life.”
Iowa’s capitol city is definitely a strong contender considering that it has remained one of the best places for business activity and cultural affairs. The magazine explains, “(It) has 562,000 people in the metro area and features business costs 15% below the national average (living costs are 10% below the national average). It has an educated labor supply as 33% of adults have college degrees (ranking 46th among the 200 largest metros) and 92% possess high school diplomas (ranks 19th)… The economic outlook is bright in Des Moines as well. Employment is expected to increase at a 2.7% annual clip over the next three years, 10th best in the country. Meanwhile, household incomes are projected to rise 2.9%, which ranks 11th.”
There are indeed many career opportunities in Des Moines. Leading corporate offices are insurance companies such as Principal Life Insurance Company, Seabury and Smith (Marsh), Nationwide (Allied) Insurance, Holmes Murphy, American Republic Insurance Company, EMC Insurance, ING Financial and Wells Fargo Financial – one of the largest employers in the area.
Other companies that are contributors to the burgeoning economic landscape are United Parcel Service, Wyeth, Younkers Department Stores, Deere & Company and CDS Global. Of course, recession-proof health-related businesses abound in the city too with Iowa Health Systems, McFarland Clinic, Mercy Hospital Medical Center, and the Mary Greeley Medical Center.
Finally, the city is home to the World Food Prize – “the foremost international award recognizing the achievements in advancing human development by improving the quality, quantity or availability of food in the world.”
And how about prospects for housing? Forbes states, “Housing is affordable with a median home price of just $149,000, one-quarter the price of a home in the San Francisco area. Commute times, according to the Census Bureau, average 19.8 minutes, one of the fastest in the U.S.” The city’s Office of Economic Development states that in 2007, the median home price was just $107,000.
Homebuyers have wide interesting choices on where to settle. I personally recommend two prime areas. First, Windsor Heights is just right for career-oriented professionals since it’s located right at the heart of Des Moines. Its official website describes the city as having “a distinctive niche as a quality small community within the state’s major metropolitan area. It is unmatched in its strategic location, convenient to all of the metropolitan and suburban amenities while offering affordable housing, business opportunities and a strong sense of community.”
If you wish to live farther, in north of Des Moines, Johnston’s affordable communities can suit you best. It has just completed a watershed assessment and stormwater management plan in the hopes of improving community development services in the area. It’s even crafting a framework to help improve the city by the year 2030.
Andy Denton is the COO of www.Realty.com. Realty.com is a real estate search portal, dedicated to connecting home buyers and sellers to trusting real estate services. Follow the Realty.com blog for up to date housing news and trends. And monitor local mortgage rates at RealtyGadget.com.
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