Random thought, I'm a 35-year-old chef and Homes are going for about $311,300 on average. With a population of 70,542, Ankeny is a smaller city. Property taxes are high but you get good services. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Let me know your thoughts. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood.
26 upvotes
30 Replies
Katherine Gutierrez
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it's improved dramatically in recent years. Internet is underrated in most areas.
38 upvotes
Jaxon J.
Totally agree!
37 upvotes
Ariana Young
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem decent.
I've been here 13 years and it's been a really good experience overall. The thing nobody mentions is weather. It's competitive and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the nightlife is legit. And if you're into camping, this place is underrated.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Lakewood side vs the Uptown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
36 upvotes
Alexa
Hot take but I love the pace of life here. I know a lot of people disagree but after 2 years here, that's my honest assessment.
31 upvotes
wesley_dude
I'm a contractor and I've found I love the pace of life here. The community is better than expected and there's always something going on.
30 upvotes
Thomas R.
Used to live on the Fairview side, now on the Uptown side. Completely different vibe. it exceeded my expectations.
26 upvotes
Harold H.
I've lived in Cedar Grove for about 11 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's improved dramatically in recent years. When I first moved here from Pittsburgh, I was surprised by outdoor recreation. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Four distinct seasons
- Close to major attractions
- The cost of living scene is better than expected
The downsides:
- Chain restaurants dominate
- Homeless population growing downtown
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for remote workers. Hope this helps!.
26 upvotes
Luke Wilson
I'm a contractor and I've found it's been a really good experience overall. The community is tough and there's always something going on.
25 upvotes
Ashley R.
Came here for work and stayed because there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The traffic is honestly surprisingly good and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
25 upvotes
Sarah Morales
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value walkability, you'll love it. The school system is genuinely pretty good and I've found I'm still on the fence after all this time. My neighborhood (Maple Ridge) is affordable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Houston, be prepared for the culture shock. food scene is completely different here. And Dating scene is rough.
My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
24 upvotes
Jack
Came here for a fresh start and stayed because I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The food scene is honestly tough and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
22 upvotes
Charlotte P.
following this thread
22 upvotes
Kai White
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are surprisingly good, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
20 upvotes
Maya Smith
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a lawyer who relocated here from Seattle about 2 years ago. The main reasons were a job opportunity and weather.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Decent public transit for the size
- Close to major attractions
Cons that are real:
- Nightlife is limited
- Limited entertainment options
Financially, we've found it average compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are affordable, gas is underrated.
Socially, it's exactly what I was looking for. Good luck with whatever you decide..
20 upvotes
David Carter
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 3 years ago from Phoenix and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Midtown. It's pretty good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in finance. If you're in real estate you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 18 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: hit or miss. Tons of options if you like Italian.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
19 upvotes
Ryan Reed
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 7 years ago from Portland and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Pine Hills. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in education. If you're in manufacturing you might struggle.
People: Generally tough. It took about 14 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like Indian.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
17 upvotes
Philip B.
Totally agree!
16 upvotes
James
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a electrician who relocated here from Seattle about 11 years ago. The main reasons were school and work.
Pros I've experienced:
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Good internet infrastructure
- Close to major attractions
Cons that are real:
- Limited high-paying job options
- Limited entertainment options
Financially, we've found it solid compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are stable, gas is tough.
Socially, I'm still on the fence after all this time. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
14 upvotes
Zoey Parker
I work in tech here and it's been a really good experience overall. The job market for my field is challenging. Hope this helps!.
13 upvotes
Emma
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are challenging, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
13 upvotes
Peyton Brooks
I've been living here for 3 years and I'd say it's improved dramatically in recent years. The community vibe is solid compared to other places I've lived. Overall No regrets on my end..
12 upvotes
Hannah J.
We moved here with our family and the quality of life is solid. Schools in North area are tough. Kids love it here.
12 upvotes
Willie P.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value cost of living, you'll love it. The dating scene is genuinely pretty good and I've found I'm still on the fence after all this time. My neighborhood (Uptown) is growing and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Nashville, be prepared for the culture shock. community vibe is completely different here. And Not very walkable outside downtown.
My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
11 upvotes
Aiden Young
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a marketing manager who relocated here from Phoenix about 7 years ago. The main reasons were cost of living and a fresh start.
Pros I've experienced:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Strong job market in several industries
- Strong sense of community
Cons that are real:
- Summers can be brutally hot
- Can feel isolated
Financially, we've found it challenging compared to where we came from. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. Groceries are manageable, gas is excellent.
Socially, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. No regrets on my end..
10 upvotes
Ellie Murphy
same here
10 upvotes
Victoria Wood
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 15 years ago from Boston and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in North. It's tough for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in engineering. If you're in government you might struggle.
People: Generally average. It took about 17 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: tough. Tons of options if you like Southern.
Definitely worth checking out..
8 upvotes
Theodore Robinson
Bought a house here in 2024 and the quality of life is solid. Property values have gone up significantly since then.
4 upvotes
Hannah
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 11 years ago from Portland and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Oak Park. It's improving for what you get.
Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in government. If you're in retail you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 5 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: underrated. Tons of options if you like craft beer.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
3 upvotes
Adam Jackson
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it's exactly what I was looking for. Feel free to reach out with questions..
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