Reviews & Comments
Iowa, IA
Born and Raised in Iowa -
4/21/2006Having been born and raised in Iowa, I feel qualified to tell you a bit about it if you are thinking about moving there.
Highlights:
Excellent education from elementary through university levels
Low prices for homes and food
FRESH, cheap food all summmer and fall
Safe neighborhoods
Friendly folks - if you're clean-cut
Independent movie theaters, small film festivals, concerts and theater
Fun small-town events
Good fishing (if you like lake\river fish)
Nice bike trails
Green, green, green as far as the eye can see
Shortcomings:
Freezing winters and hot, muggy summers
98% white (if you're not white and/or not clean-cut, it might not be for you)
Choice of ethic restaurants is still slim though increasing
Tough on those with bad allergies
Iowa wages are lower for the same job than other regions, for example teachers aren't paid very well in general
Hope this helps.
Cedar Rapids, IA
You can't go wrong -
4/21/2006If you are looking for a safe place to settle so you can raise your kids away from the problems of big cities, Iowa is it. Other than a few places in Des Moines and Cedar Rapids, and even fewer in Waterloo, the quality of education is outstanding and students receive individual attention from well-trained educators. Unlike places where students can frequently "cut class" without parents finding out, my sister received a phone call from the school principal himself when her son spoke dismissively to him during lunch period. Furthermore, standardized testing is frequently among the highest in the nation.