Nyemaster, Goode, West, Hansell & O'Brien, P.C. - Attorneys and Counselors at Law, Iowa

About Central Iowa

A Large, Vibrant Community:
Central Iowa is home to nearly 600,000 people and growing rapidly. The region features a large and expanding financial services industry, world-renowned universities and colleges, low unemployment and crime, and vast opportunities for young professionals.

As one measure of central Iowa’s vibrancy, the transformation of Downtown Des Moines in recent years stands out: a new Central Library designed by one of the world’s most sought after architectural firms; a new Science Center of Iowa with an IMAX theater; the Iowa Events Center, featuring the 17,000-seat Wells Fargo Arena and adjacent convention and exhibition space; and condominiums and apartments springing up in new – or newly renovated – buildings on virtually every block.

But don’t take our word for it. Central Iowa routinely makes lists of the best places to live and work:

Fast Company lists Des Moines as one of the “Cities on the Verge” in high-tech (July 2007)
Forbes ranked Des Moines fourth in its annual list of “Best Places for Business and Careers” (April 2007)
Kiplinger’s named Des Moines to its list of “Best Cities for Every Stage of Life” (2006)
Des Moines may be the “The Hippest City in the USA” (October 2003)

You Can Afford to Live Well Here:
The cost of living in central Iowa is only a fraction of that in many metropolitan areas. If you earn $100,000 here, you would need to earn nearly $197,000 in New York City, $229,000 in San Francisco, and $128,000 in Chicago to have the same standard of living, based on 2007 data from Sperling’s Best Places. The median home price here is under $145,000. Compare that to the suburbs of New York City ($521,400), the San Francisco Bay Area ($748,100), or Chicago ($267,300), according to a 2007 National Association of Realtors report.

A large home in a good neighborhood with excellent public schools, including the innovative Downtown School located just a few blocks from our Des Moines offices, is within the reach of young professionals. And you’ll have time to enjoy it. According to the U.S. Census, the average commute time in Des Moines is just 19.2 minutes. Less time commuting means more time with family and friends, and a lot less stress.

When you want to travel outside of Iowa, the Des Moines International Airport offers direct flights to places such as New York, Las Vegas, Washington D.C., Phoenix, and Denver, as well as the airlines’ major hub cities for travel anywhere in the world. Chicago, Kansas City, and Minneapolis are all within easy driving distance for a quick weekend getaway.

There is Plenty to Do Here:
No matter what you like to do, you’ll find it in central Iowa.
Sports fans never lack for a game to watch. Three NCAA Division I universities are located in or near central Iowa: Iowa State University, Drake University, and the University of Iowa. Central Iowa is home to a number of professional sports teams: the Triple A Iowa Cubs baseball team, Iowa Stars hockey team, the NBA D-League Iowa Energy basketball team, and the Des Moines Menace soccer team.

People in central Iowa eat more than corn and Jell-O gelatin. From the fresh produce at the amazing Des Moines Farmers’ Market, to the gourmet groceries at the Gateway Market, to fine French food at Bistro Montage, to exquisite small plates at Trostel’s Dish, to a great steak at 801 Steak & Chop House, to international fare from every corner of the globe (Thai, Vietnamese, Indian, African), to a cup of fresh-roasted coffee at Zanzibar’s Coffee Adventure, you’ll find unlimited ways to satisfy your appetite.

Feel the itch to shop? Central Iowa has several major malls, the newest being the two million square foot Jordan Creek Town Center, which includes an Apple store. For a different shopping experience, the East Village and Valley Junction feature independent boutiques and restaurants found nowhere else.

Cultural opportunities abound here. Central Iowa features a wonderful art museum with free admission, one of the best arts festivals in the country, a symphony, an opera, abundant live theater, and concerts of all sorts.

To learn more about central Iowa, visit the websites of the Greater Des Moines Partnership, the Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau, or the Ames Convention and Visitors Bureau.

List of Links:

Downtown Des Moines – http://www.downtowndesmoines.com

Des Moines Central Library – http://www.desmoineslibrary.com/Buildings/index.htm

Science Center of Iowa – http://www.sciowa.org

Iowa Events Center – http://www.iowaeventscenter.com

Mulberry Lofts – http://www.mulberrylofts.com

Downtown Living – http://www.desmoinesdowntownliving.com

The Kirkwood – http://www.thekirkwooddm.com

Whiteline Lofts – http://www.whitelinelofts.com

Fast Company magazine “Cities on the Verge” – http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/117/features-fast-cities-on-the-verge.html

Forbes magazine “Best Places for Business and Careers” – http://www.forbes.com/lists/2007/1/07bestplaces_Best-Places-For-Business-And-Careers_land.html