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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.

• One of Five Cool Places in America Where You Can Still Buy a Home for Less Than $200,000 — 
• #7 Most Affordable Housing Market — 
• #12 Most Affordable Place to Live in the U.S. — 

Housing in historic neighborhoods borders Drake’s campus. The 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 .

A short bike or bus ride to areas of  (particularly the East Village, Court Avenue District, and Western Gateway) leads to affordable urban lofts near art studios, theaters, restaurants, and community organizations.  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 Drake offers to the public each year). You’ll find everything from ballet and Broadway productions to experimental art and theatreexhibits.

• #4 Most Arts-Vibrant Mid-Sized Community — 
• - Expedia.com, February 14, 2018

Discover the arts & culture scene in Des Moines:

• (named one of the top arts festivals in the world)

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:

You’ll find a comprehensive list of groups and organizations focused on

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:

• -Ppolicygenius.com 2022
• Best Mid-Size Town in the Midwest —

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 , and direct flights are being added all the time, making it easy to reach major cities anywhere in the United States.