Ames #9 best place to live-Small

[dmclone]

I always take these with a grain of salt since they change so much each year but nice read.

Best Places to Live 2010 - Top 100: City details: Ames, IA - from MONEY Magazine

 

[GoShow97]

I always take these with a grain of salt since they change so much each year but nice read.

Best Places to Live 2010 - Top 100: City details: Ames, IA - from MONEY Magazine

"a bustling shopping district" WHAT?



Evidently I missed this disrict when I was back visiting earlier this spring. :biglaugh:

 

[clonefreek]

They are talking about downtown.

 

[Al_4_State]

Seems likes Ames wins awards like this frequently. Someone should keep tabs on these, and have 'em linked every time some national pundit calls Ames a **** hole.

 

[GoShow97]

I still don't know what they are talking about. Ames offers alot of great things IMO and I like Ames. But to say Ames has a bustling shopping district is absurd.

 

[superman_101680]

"a bustling shopping district" WHAT?



Evidently I missed this disrict when I was back visiting earlier this spring. :biglaugh:

LOL my thoughts exactly.

 

[Al_4_State]

Downtown has been pretty busy every time I've been there in the past couple years. Not necessarily a "bustling shopping district", but far from dead.

 

[GoShow97]

Seems likes Ames wins awards like this frequently. Someone should keep tabs on these, and have 'em linked every time some national pundit calls Ames a **** hole.

Clearly anyone who calls Ames a ****hole hasn't been to Ames or has an agenda that skews their objectivity. I've spent the last 8 years of my life traveling in the US, and I can tell you, as you alrady know, Ames is way above average. So anyone who slags on Ames is not being objective.

 

[dmclone]

All depends what you're looking for in a town.

 

[AlleyAddict]

West Des Moines was number 75 as well, IMO I think WDM should be higher

 

[Al_4_State]

Clearly anyone who calls Ames a ****hole hasn't been to Ames or has an agenda that skews their objectivity. I've spent the last 8 years of my life traveling in the US, and I can tell you, as you alrady know, Ames is way above average. So anyone who slags on Ames is not being objective.

I think most people who slag Ames are just ignorant. They've never been there, and harbor negative stereotypes of Iowa.

Or they're Hawk fans, and like you said, have an agenda.

 

[hurdleisu24]

West Des Moines was number 75 as well, IMO I think WDM should be higher

Agreed. I figured I would have been ahead of IC (68)

 

[capitalcityguy]

West Des Moines was number 75 as well, IMO I think WDM should be higher

I would assume the criteria for the list includes offerings for higher ed. Ames has a university...hard for W DM to complete there. Ames housing is probably a bit cheaper. Schools might rank higher? Ames also has cultural amenties...e.g..CY Auditorium...that W DM doesn't (because a lot of things are in DM).

I'm not saying a person might not personally prefer W DM, but I don't know how subjective the rankings are. It may be more, plug in the info and see what pops out.

 

[dmclone]

West Des Moines was number 75 as well, IMO I think WDM should be higher

This is why it's kind of a joke. In 2009 Ankeny was #62, Bettendorf was #80, and Urbandale was #42

The 3 that are listed this year were not even in the top 100 last year. Also, how much different is Urbandale and WDM? Your telling me Ames went from 100+ to #9 in one year? Yeah ok.

 

[RayShimley]

Downtown has been pretty busy every time I've been there in the past couple years. Not necessarily a "bustling shopping district", but far from dead.

People would be surprised how busy Main Street is during the day on any given week day. it is not packed solid, but most stores are doing decent business. Compared to "Main Streets" of other towns of similar size, I'd say Ames' is definitely "bustling."

 

[Broodwich]

Bustling shopping?

Ames Tribune > Ames Tribune > News

 

[superman_101680]

Bustling shopping?

Ames Tribune > Ames Tribune > News

Northgrand Mall has been a joke for 10+ years. I remember the city trying to get a new mall off of I-35 which never happened.

 

[jsmith86]

Northgrand Mall has been a joke for 10+ years. I remember the city trying to get a new mall of of I-35 which never happened.

I seem to remember some city council members putting their foot down on this one. I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure they are now former city council members.

 

[brianhos]

I always take these with a grain of salt since they change so much each year but nice read.

Best Places to Live 2010 - Top 100: City details: Ames, IA - from MONEY Magazine

Every time I go back to Ames I comment on how much I would hate to live there again. There are tons of nicer towns to live in around the area than Ames.

 

[dmclone]

Every time I go back to Ames I comment on how much I would hate to live there again. There are tons of nicer towns to live in around the area than Ames.

You shouldn't have said that. Prepare to hear a lot of Skankeny comments.