When you're looking for Iowa cities to call home, you're searching for the place where you'll have the best quality of life. Your list of things that make up the perfect community might include low crime, great family amenities, and any number of personal preferences. But the real key to achieving happiness comes in finding that work-life balance. Personal preferences come into play when you're looking for this kind of balance - someone who's very active and into outdoor activities might be looking for something completely different than someone with small children who's interested in a kid-friendly environment.
As a state, Iowa offers a wide range of perks for any lifestyle - there are areas that are exceptional for nature lovers, great places for families, and fantastic communities for those interested in the arts or education. That's great for Iowa but it makes it difficult to narrow down a small list of the "best" cities and towns. For a list of places with definite advantages for a work-life balance, we looked at a number of different variables. We wanted to pick towns that would appeal to large percentages of the population and give a bit of a variety as far as lifestyles - someone who enjoys urban settings is not going to find the same balance in a small, country town as someone who enjoys rural living, etc. We also wanted to look at things like the median number of hours worked and commuting time as well as median income level and local amenities. All of these things play in together. A low number of hours worked combined with a higher income is ideal, because it means the population has extra personal time without stretching their finances. A large number of activities and amenities in the area gives the population ample opportunity to stay involved in their community and participate in local life.
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Iowa City tops our list for many of the same reasons it reached the number one spot on the SmartAsset Least Stressed City in America list of 2015. Iowa City residents enjoy a lower than state average unemployment rate. Other perks include a shorter median work week and shorter than average commute time. The atmosphere is largely that of a college town. Iowa City is home to the University of Iowa, which lends to the appeal with a great many cultural and educational amenities attached to the college and surrounding areas. Other great perks include a lower than average divorce rate and a large percentage of the population holding higher degrees of education, with 58% of adults holding a Bachelor's Degree or higher. If you like the idea of living and working in a quaint college town but don't want to work at the University, other large employers in the area include the ACT Headquarters, the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, and Hy Vee, to name a few.
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As of 2014, Ankeny has a population of about 50,000. Of those residents, a high percent hold a Bachelor's Degree or higher and the median income in Ankeny is well above state average - it's one of the most affluent cities in the state. The quality of life here is excellent, with highly rated schools and a number of family and cultural attractions throughout the year. Ankeny also enjoys a much lower than average unemployment rate and low crime rates.
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West Des Moines offers a great deal to young families and single, young professionals. The city was named to Money Magazine's 100 Best Places to Live list in both 2014 and 2015. Residents here enjoy a much higher median income rate, lower unemployment, and higher overall level of education attainment. West Des Moines was also named to the Hipster Cities of 2015, making it a fantastic location for young professionals interested in a work-life balance that includes professional, young culture. For those unfamiliar with the hipster lifestyle, think alternative live music, beards, and deference for homemade wears, arts, and culture.
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Dubuque Iowa offers culture and job growth unsurpassed in other areas of the state. It's located in the Tri-State Area, where Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin all come together. This specific location, along with a lot of booming industry growth, has given Dubuque some advantages in terms of work-life balance for its residents. The median home price here is slightly above the state average. The average commute time is only 16 minutes, making it a non-stress induced rush hour. The unemployment rate in this area is also low and a wide range of industries are represented, offering opportunity for a great variety of industries and education levels.
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Iowa Falls is distinctly smaller than the rest of the cities on this list, with a population of only 5,217. The median income here is a little lower than the state average, but the cost of living is far below the national average. What Iowa Falls does offer its residents is a shorter than average commute time and a shorter than average work week. It's a gorgeous city which boasts a movie theater on the National Register of Historic Places - originally named the Metropolitan Opera House, it opened in 1899. The town is quaint and well-kept. Saying that the town small enough to know everyone is no understatement here.
Each of these areas offer their own specific perks. If you're still on the hunt for the perfect location where you can build a life, one of these cities might be exactly where you need to be.
