Ames 1 of 10 best communities to retire young.
- Thread starter Whitey
- Start date
No way, I left Ames 10 years ago and will never live there again, and I even grew up there.
There is nothing to do other than ISU sports, and the traffic is terrible. It takes forever to get from one side of town to the other. The one thing Ames does have that Ankeny dosen't is a wealth of good places to eat.
There is nothing to do other than ISU sports, and the traffic is terrible. It takes forever to get from one side of town to the other. The one thing Ames does have that Ankeny dosen't is a wealth of good places to eat.
I agree with the synopsis. I love this town. It's small, close, and almost everyone around town is very personable.
yeah I'm sure this "ranking" is going to make the Ames population skyrocket.... I do think Ames is a great little college town, but for retirement? did this article mention Iowa winters?
i actually like ames more the ankeny...neither town has alot of stuff to do, but when football and basketball is going on, ames is the place to be.. only good think that ankeny has is walmart and target is close together.. thats about it..
Ames has phenomenal potential. But it's really got it's head up its butt. I left Ames and I still live in the area, but Ames does not handle growth very well. The train crossing at Duff and Lincoln way as an example, and the anti-Mall crowd. It is a stifling place to live. It takes the worst aspects of college liberalism and the crotchety small town "status quo" mentality with few of the benefits, i.e. Grinnell.
I really hope maybe rating this will give the city council and civic leaders a slap across the face and to wake up, prepare, and start acting like a Big 12 University city and a cultural center, instead of a small-town that happens to have a major university in it.
I really hope maybe rating this will give the city council and civic leaders a slap across the face and to wake up, prepare, and start acting like a Big 12 University city and a cultural center, instead of a small-town that happens to have a major university in it.
"No way, I left Ames 10 years ago and will never live there again, and I even grew up there.
There is nothing to do other than ISU sports, and the traffic is terrible. It takes forever to get from one side of town to the other. The one thing Ames does have that Ankeny dosen't is a wealth of good places to eat.No way, I left Ames 10 years ago and will never live there again, and I even grew up there."
Brianhos - You really got away...you world traveler....you realy put some distance between u and Ames...
There is nothing to do other than ISU sports, and the traffic is terrible. It takes forever to get from one side of town to the other. The one thing Ames does have that Ankeny dosen't is a wealth of good places to eat.No way, I left Ames 10 years ago and will never live there again, and I even grew up there."
Brianhos - You really got away...you world traveler....you realy put some distance between u and Ames...
The Criteria...
Best Places to Retire Young: How we picked 'em - Apr. 12, 2007
Specific criteria used in making up the list of best places follow:
Best Places to Retire Young: How we picked 'em - Apr. 12, 2007
Specific criteria used in making up the list of best places follow:
- Population growth: We wanted positive growth since 1990.
- Near major metropolitan area: within 100 miles.
- Housing cost: below $350,000, with a few exceptions. We're showing current median housing prices (asking prices) for single-family houses.
- Cost of living: No more than 20 percent above the national average.
- Economic health: current unemployment rate below 4 percent and job growth greater than 10 percent for the past five years.
- College presence: one or more major and/or highly competitive college in the vicinity.
- Recreation and arts and culture score in the top third for nearby major metropolitan areas.
Ankeny's teacher pay is very good. I don't know that the education is any better than what's available in Ames, Valley, the Iowa City schools, etc.
What specifically are some of you looking to do when you can't find anything to do? I always thought that there was plenty to do in Ames - you just have to be informed. My wife's cousins live in Chicago and always complain that there's nothing to do.
I would move back to Ames if my parents didn't still live there.
It is getting better. The Mall has passed. The aquatic center is going to come up again soon. Get out to the meetings if you are a member of the Ames community and help make it better.
Plans for the Lifestyle Center
Plans for the Lifestyle Center
I personally don't know if the Ankeny district is "better" per say than others in the area, but it is well-funded. The Ankeny schools have better than average resources for students and teachers, which helps create a more effective learning environment. Comparing the Ankeny schools to others that I have been in, Ankeny has blown them out of the water in my eyes.
Why move far away? I get paid like live in a big city, but my costs are ridiculously low in ankeny. Best of both worlds, plus I have kids, so I am stuck now.
I grew up in Iowa and went to ISU. I love both Iowa and Ames/ISU...but retire in Ames...PLEASE!!
I have lived most of the last 20 or so years in the southeastern part of the US and I do not plan to ever live anywhere where I would have to shovel snow ever again...certainly not in retirement!
I have lived most of the last 20 or so years in the southeastern part of the US and I do not plan to ever live anywhere where I would have to shovel snow ever again...certainly not in retirement!
Don't see many of my retired Ankeny neighbors actually shovelling their own snow. Usually the neighborhood helps out a little. :yes4lo:
Lucky bastards!!!
