des moines iowa
des moines iowa

Des Moines, IA

Mobile Homes in Des Moines

  • About

  • History

  • Location

  • Things to do

  • Demographics

  • Culture

  • Schools

  • FAQ

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Is buying a mobile home in Des Moines, Iowa a good idea?

Des Moines is a big city, especially for the great plains. It offers good schools, a low crime rate, a culturally diverse population and a very low cost of living. Homes there are very affordable compared to the rest of the nation, and there seem to be plenty of good jobs drawing people in. It is not hard to see why there is such a drive to buy a mobile home in Gulfport these days. That said, the “small town – big city” lifestyle has its disadvantages. One of those is that the city has grown only very slowly over the last handful of years, and new properties are very thin on the ground. Competition for the places that remain can be fierce.

In this article, we’ll explore some of the best neighborhoods for buying a mobile home in Des Moines, Iowa. We’ll consider Des Moines’ location and geography, the demographics of the city today and what there is to occupy visitors and residents alike – after all, a metro area of 700,000 people requires quite a few things to do on a Saturday night.

History of Des Moines

History of Des Moines

iowa history

The confluence of the Racoon and Des Moines Rivers has been occupied for at least 7,000 years, maybe more. Many remains have been found below downtown, and at least three villages occupied the site from 1300 CE to 1700 CE. Very little is known about these peoples, however, as the Meskwaki and Sauk tribes had been forced into the region by the US government, and the original inhabitants were driven away in turn. Fort Des Moines was erected in 1843 to protect settlers into the region from the Sauk and Meskwaki, before they were once again forcibly removed to what was briefly called the “Indian Territory.” The abandoned fort was taken over by settlers in 1846, and the city was incorporated in 1851. “Fort Des Moines” was shortened to “Des Moines” in 1857. Coal Mining began in 1864, but the coal was mined out by the early 20th century. A shift to a service-based economy after WWII saw many skyscrapers rising above the city in the 1970s and 80s.

iowa history

Things to do in Des Moines

Things to do in Des Moines

iowa things to do

While you are hunting Des Moines mobile homes for sale, why not explore some of the city’s attractions, such as the magnificent Iowa State Capitol Building, the State of Iowa Historical Museum, the Terrace Hill National Historic Landmark, the Science Center of Iowa and Blank IMAX Dome Theater, the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, Blank Park Zoo, the Iowa Primate Learning Sanctuary or nearby Adventureland Park?

iowa things to do

Mobile Homes for sale in Des Moines, IA

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Location

Map showing Des Moines

Location

The city of Des Moines was built at the confluence of the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers – indeed, the first settlers wanted to call it “Racoon City,” but this was rejected by the legislature. Des Moines is far from any significant bodies of water besides the rivers, and near the geographical center of North America. This location gives it a humid continental climate with hot humid summers and cold but dry winters. Afternoon thunderstorms are common in the spring and summer, but rarely cause any damage. By comparison, Des Moines, Iowa winters are colder than those of Chicago, but warmer than those of Minneapolis. Its summer temperatures are similar to most metropolitan areas in the upper midwest. This makes for a fairly conducive climate for mobile homes in Des Moines. Before you decide whether or not buying a mobile home in Des Moines, IA is for you, why not think about where you would like to live, who you would like your neighbors to be, and what kind of amenities you need to be close to? Is proximity to the best schools a key factor? Is the length of your commute the most important issue? Each of the following areas offers different benefits and drawbacks. Des Moines Neighborhoods Bloomfield Allen The neighborhood of Bloomfield Allen is mostly taken up by Easter Lake, Easter Lake Park and Ewing Park. The median price for real estate there is $287,500, which puts it in the bottom half of US neighborhoods for price, but in the top 15% for Iowa. Though within the city, this neighborhood serves as a calm suburb and island amid the busy urban environment. The vacancy levels in Bloomfield Allen are very low, though, around 0.7%. This is a great place to look for mobile homes in Des Moines, but it also offers many larger sized single-family homes. East Village You’ll find the neighborhood of East Village just east of the Des Moines River. It also includes the green space surrounding the State Capitol building. Prices are higher here, with a median value of just over $366,000, This places it in the top 6% of all Iowa neighborhoods by price, but is still fairly approachable by national standards. East Village is mostly made up of small apartment buildings and high-rises. The vacancy rate in the East Village neighborhood is high, at just under 14%. This and the low population density make it a particularly good hunting ground for Des Moines, IA mobile homes for sale. Waterbury The Waterbury neighborhood, also called Ingersoll Park, is almost completely encircled by green space, including the Waveland Golf Course to the north, Greenwood Park to the south, and the Walnut Creek Train to the west. It includes Merrill Junior High School and borders both Theodore Roosevelt High School and Saint Augustin School. Real estate is pricey here, at $327,000 median value. That puts it in the top 10% of Iowa neighborhoods, but only in the top 45% nationally. It is a great place to buy a mobile home in Iowa.

Des Moines demographics

Des Moines demographics

iowa demographics

If you are looking to buy a mobile home in Des Moines, you’ll want to know more about its people. Des Moines is a large city by midwestern standards. It had 214,133 residents as of the 2020 census, up nearly 11,000 from the population in 2010.

Just under 87% of Des Moines residents over the age of 25 have high school diplomas, and just under 28% have a Bachelor’s degree or higher. The median household income was $54,843 in 2020, and the median value of owner-occupied housing units was an affordable 141,300 in the same year.

iowa demographics

Arts in Des Moines

Arts in Des Moines

iowa arts

Anyone buying a mobile home in Des Moines, IA will be curious about its art and cultural scene. Des Moines is the cultural center of the state, and is famous both for its museums and its performing arts groups. These include the Des Moines Metro Opera, Ballet Des Moines, the Des Moines Symphony, the Metro Arts Alliance and the Simon Estes Riverfront Amphitheater. Noteworthy museums in the city include the Des Moines Art Center, the Pappajohn Sculpture Park, the Salisbury House and Gardens, and the Hoyt Sherman Place Public Art Gallery.

iowa arts

Schools in Des Moines

Schools in Des Moines

One of the best reasons to buy a mobile home in Des Moines is the quality of education you can get there. Just a few of the best primary and secondary schools in and around the city include East, Hoover, Lincoln, North, and Roosevelt High Schools, Dowling Catholic High School in West Des Moines and Ankeny Christian Academy. Colleges and universities in and around Des Moines include Des Moines Area Community College, Des Moines University, Drake University, Grand View University, Iowa State University’s MBA program, Mercy College of Health Sciences, Purdue University Global, Simpson College, the University of Iowa’s satellite facility in Western Gateway Park, Upper Iowa University and William Penn University.

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Why Des Moines?

Why Des Moines?

iowa why

Des Moines is a happy city with a robust financial and insurance services-based economy. Land is very inexpensive in Iowa generally, but it can be pricey in a few of Des Moines’ best neighborhoods. There are plenty of mobile homes in Des Moines for sale on the outskirts, as well. Economically, it makes sense. But the real issue is whether you and your family would be happy in Des Moines or its extended metropolitan area. Perhaps you should visit, and see for yourself?

iowa why
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