With a low cost of living, a healthy economy fueled by sustainable growth industries, and family-friendly communities, the Des Moines metro area is a great place to live, work, and raise a family. It is consistently named among the best cities for a surprising variety of demographics: young professionals, middle class families, tech grads, retirees, and more. The city of Des Moines has around 200,000 residents, while nearly 600,000 people call the five-county metro area home.

One of the best reasons to move to Des Moines is the robust, diverse economy. The median salary in the Des Moines metro area is $51,200, just about the national average, but the cost of living is six percentage points below the national average. Even more impressively, job growth is 2.9 percent. Traditionally, the Des Moines area has been home to some of the world’s largest insurance companies, which remain a strong presence in the region. The newest growth centers around tech giants like Facebook and Microsoft, as well as a community that encourages entrepreneurs, especially tech start-ups. The Iowa Economic Development Authority provides a variety of funds and incentives to encourage new and expanding businesses, and the state offers relatively low tax rates and business costs.

The school systems in Des Moines and its suburbs offer excellent educational opportunities, including an advanced placement program and innovative, global-focused International Baccalaureate program. The 2015 U.S. News and World Report list of best high schools in the country included 117 Iowa schools (16 silver medal schools and 101 bronze medal schools), including John F. Kennedy High in Cedar Rapids (No 1. on the Iowa list and 638 nationally), Ames High, Valley High in West Des Moines, and Waukee High.

Iowa also excels in higher educational opportunities, including small, well-ranked private colleges like Grinnell College, Cornell College, and Drake University, and large, diverse public educational institutions including the University of Iowa, University of Northern Iowa, Iowa State University, and the Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) campuses.