Frequently Asked Questions About Living in Greater Des Moines

Curious about what it’s like living in Greater Des Moines (DSM)? We’ve got answers to the frequently asked questions you’ve been contemplating where we touch on the region’s low cost of living, exciting events and attractions, travel and weather considerations and more. If you’re questioning whether choosing DSM as your next place to live is the right thing, keep on reading to discover what’s waiting for you. DSM is a top five place for working moms, first-time homebuyers and renters, home to one of the best cultural festivals in the country and a top 10 Midwest Metro for graduates to start a career. 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is DSM boring to live in? 

2. What's it actually like living in DSM? 

3. How easy is it to make friends in DSM?

4. What good paying jobs are available in DSM? 

5. What's the best neighborhood to live in?

Is DSM Boring to Live in?

No way! There’s so much to do in DSM. Whether you’re interested in exploring the diverse food and drink scene, catching live entertainment or heading outdoors for adventure, you’ll find plenty of ways to fill your free time. 

The region is home to world-class festivals and events like the Downtown Farmers' Market and World Food & Music Festival in Downtown Des Moines (DSM). No summer is complete without the Iowa State Fair. in Des Moines, and audiences love summer performances during the Des Moines Metro Opera’s Festival Season in Indianola. The Bridges of Madison County in Winterset and St. Charles highlight historic covered bridges, and you can attend the Covered Bridge Festival in the fall to see the bridges during the most colorful season in Iowa. The National Balloon Classic in Indianola features 100+ hot air balloons, while Lake Red Rock’s Balloonfest held its 15th annual event in 2026 and is a summer highlight for the Marion County area.

If you’re looking to explore where you live from a design perspective, the Iowa Architectural Foundation puts on seasonal Architecture on the Move events in Downtown DSM where you can tour some of the city’s most historic buildings. Beyond Downtown DSM, there’s the High Trestle Trail Bridge (with access points to the High Trestle Trail in Ankeny, Woodward, Sheldahl, Slater and Madrid), which offers architecture that creates a one-of-a-kind experience thanks to its neon lighting visible after sunset. 

And if you’re looking to embrace your artistic side, DSM is a place with more than enough opportunities to do so, no matter your age or knowledge of the art world. In Grinnell, the Grinnell College Museum of Art supports major art exhibitions and even includes pieces by Rembrandt van Rijn and Pablo Picasso. From mini art vending machines and First Friday events at Mainframe Studios that support local artists to skywalk mural projects like Skywalks Reimagined, the iconic John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park and the annual Des Moines Art Festival, Downtown DSM is constantly offering art enthusiasts new ways to take in the local art world. In Winterset, Paint Madison County (A Plein Air Festival) is an annual summer art festival where you can watch artists create masterpieces in public spaces. In Ankeny’s Uptown neighborhood, the Ankeny Art Center Arts Festival features 50+ regional artists in a neighborhood with boutique shopping and neighborhood restaurants, coffeehouses and ice cream shops. 

Whether you’re skating the WOW sign at Lauridsen Skatepark in Downtown DSM, filling your shopping bag at Jordan Creek Town Center, West Des Moines’ premier retail destination with a lakefront boardwalk, or you’re cheering along with the best sports fans around at the Iowa Speedway in Newton, there’s simply not time to be bored in DSM … So have fun exploring all year long! 

What's It Actually Like Living in DSM?

Living in DSM means you’re constantly surrounded by things to do and people to learn from, regardless of which part of the region you decide to call home. No matter your generation — Gen X, Millennial or Gen Z — your personality or your career aspirations, living in DSM will help you build towards the life you want. 

The Des Moines International Airport continues to transform, with 33 non-stop flights and a new terminal set to open in 2027. Bus services through Des Mones Area Regional Transit Authority (DART) offer bus routes across the region and DART on Demand for short trips and areas without fixed routes. And it’s easy to access what you need at any time of year, with travel across the metro usually taking less than 30 minutes. 

When you live in DSM, you can also be sure that education is a priority. The Johnston Community School District recently had an educator selected as a 2027 Iowa Regional Teacher of the Year, while innovation and higher learning is being embraced by the Waukee Innovation & Learning Center, The Innovation Hub (opening in 2028 in Ankeny) and Central Campus in Des Moines.

In DSM you get to experience all four seasons. The weather is never boring here, and that’s a good thing because it’s an opportunity for sledding and snowshoeing in the winter and swimming or hiking the extensive trail system in the summer or exploring the Downtown DSM skywalks when it rains. 

How Easy is it to Make Friends in DSM?

It’s not hard to make connections in DSM, but where you make them will depend on you! If you’re a family with young kids or middle and high schoolers and want to connect through activities or an awesome local playground, that’s easy to do in DSM. The region has plenty of ways for families to meet or spend time getting to know each other. 

You can also get to know people through your hobbies and exploring your interests. Find your crew in DSM whether you’re a dog person, someone who loves taking cooking classes, joining book clubs or connecting through local rec leagues or activities like pickleball or biking. 

What Good Paying Jobs are Available in DSM?

Collaboration is key to the momentum happening in DSM — and that collaboration is bringing impactful jobs to key industries in the region. To find open roles, search through the listings in the DSM Career Center, where the region’s major employers post their most recent available job openings and internships. Whether you’re working in the insurance and financial sector, advanced manufacturing, ag innovation, digital infrastructure and data centers, technology or logistics, you’ll find jobs at companies like John Deere, Vermeer Company, Kemin and Principal Financial Group. 

And whether you’re on the lookout for that well-compensated position or you just secured it, there’s still room to grow both your salary and your skills. With plenty of talent development opportunities available through the Greater Des Moines Partnership, DSM isn’t a place to delay your personal and professional growth, but a place where you can continue learning and creating a well-rounded life. The Next Level Talent program at Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines is just one example of internal programming  that supports employee growth through an individual business.

There are leadership development programs through local Chambers, too, including the Ankeny Leadership Institute, Grimes Leadership Academy, Warren County Leadership Institute, West Des Moines Leadership Academy and more. Professional development goes hand in hand with personal development, meaning you’ll want to look for organizations that prioritize giving back and getting involved in the community. Once you start looking for these opportunities, it’s hard not to notice what DSM employers are offering. 

What's the Best Neighborhood to Live In?

Walkable neighborhoods. Active suburbs close to the action. Small town traditions.

DSM has it all, and it’s easy to discover the neighborhood that will make you feel at home here! If you love the idea of a town square, a neighborhood in Polk City might be the right choice or Pella, with its historic town square featuring Dutch-inspired landmarks and stores, is an option.  

In DSM, there are historic neighborhoods for architecture lovers. To name a few, Downtown’s Sherman Hill is Des Moines’ oldest neighborhood, while Uptown Ankeny and the Historic East Village in Des Moines offer a lot of charm, too. In Stuart, consider the Historic Clocktower Building, where you’ll find historic character and modern living all in one spot, just steps from Stuart’s downtown businesses. 

If you’re looking for up-and-coming neighborhoods, you might find The District at Prairie Trail in Ankeny, Middlebrook Agrihood in Cumming, the Wandering Creek neighborhood in Marshalltown (the City’s first residential urban renewal area!) or Kettlestone Central in Waukee fit the bill.  

Still undecided on which neighborhood will feel like home? Take the Where Should I Live quiz to find the right community fit for you! 

Make Your Move. Find Something Greater.

Request a free relocation guide to learn more about the region or reach out through our MVP network to ask your own questions.