Life in Des Moines

In 2022, Des Moines was named one of the Most Neighborly cities by Neighbor.com.  And with a vast array of housing types, neighborhoods, and amenities, that claim has the evidence to back it up.

Des Moines named a top 15 Most Affordable Place to Buy a Home 2024  (zillow.com)

Housing in historic neighborhoods borders Drake’s campus. The Drake neighborhood offers great housing options—you may even be able to take advantage of our Drake Neighborhood Home Incentive Purchase Plan. The University builds connections to the diverse communities surrounding it through an urban youth learning garden and legal clinic, and a variety of service-learning initiatives. Within a 5-mile radius, you’ll find affordable and historic housing in popular neighborhoods, including Sherman Hill and Beaverdale.

A short bike or bus ride to areas of downtown Des Moines (particularly the East Village, Court Avenue District, and Western Gateway) leads to affordable urban lofts near art studios, theaters, restaurants, and community organizations. Suburban locations offer a variety of housing options, and most suburbs are no more than a 20-minute drive from the city center. (Big-city denizens can kiss their hour-long commutes goodbye!)

Des Moines remains remarkably affordable and is enhanced by a growing cultural scene that features extensive theater, music, and art venues (not to mention the more than 100 free fine arts events Drake offers to the public each year). You’ll find everything from ballet and Broadway productions to experimental art and theatreexhibits.

Pappajohn Sculpture Park named a top 30 city park in America 2024  (msn.com)

#4 Most Arts-Vibrant Mid-Sized Community — SMU DataArts, 2022

Discover the arts & culture scene in Des Moines:

• Des Moines Register
• Des Moines Art Center
• Des Moines Music Coalition
• Des Moines Art Festival (named one of the top arts festivals in the world)
• Des Moines Playhouse
• Des Moines Performing Arts
• Des Moines Symphony

The metro is also becoming increasingly diverse; Iowa has a strong tradition of welcoming people from the around the world. In Des Moines alone, more than 100 languages are spoken. Near Drake, you’ll find various places of worships for many different religions from Christianity and Judaism to Islam and Buddhism. Thirteen major religions are represented across the metro. Those who have come to call Iowa home share their heritage with their neighbors on a daily basis, and several renowned cultural festivals are mainstays in the community:

• Latino Heritage Festival
• CelebrAsian
• World Food & Music Festival

You’ll find a comprehensive list of groups and organizations focused on advancing diversity and inclusion in the community here.

Love the great outdoors? Greater Des Moines boasts more than 600 miles of trails, perfect for biking, jogging, walking, or hiking. During the summer, you’ll find group bike rides to join nearly every day. You’ll also discover several spots to enjoy watersports, with Big Creek State Park, Saylorville Lake, and Gray’s Lake all nearby.

When the weather gets colder, as it inevitably does in the Midwest, you don’t need to hibernate—enjoy ice-skating, cross-country skiing, and any other number of winter activities within the metro area.

If you prefer watching sports to participating in them, we’ve got you covered. Several professional teams’ development squads call Des Moines home, including the Iowa Cubs (Chicago Cubs), Iowa Wolves (NBA G League) and the Iowa Wild (Minnesota Wild).

With nationally recognized local restaurants, organizations and networking opportunities for nearly every profession or interest, numerous volunteer opportunities, and shopping for every taste—from national chains and designers to local boutiques—Greater Des Moines offers plenty of options for socializing. The city’s many national accolades speak for themselves:

• Des Moines named #4 Best U.S. City for Young Adults 2024   (homebuyer.com)
• Des Moines named #1 best midsized metro for millennials 2023 (commercialcafe.com)

When the travel bug bites, it’s easy to get out of town for a few days. If you don’t feel like driving, Greyhound and Megabus service many of these cities from Des Moines.

For a further jaunt, the Des Moines International Airport can connect you with the rest of the world. The rapidly growing airport is currently served by six major airlines, and direct flights are being added all the time, making it easy to reach major cities anywhere in the United States.