Is there any place a little North of Ames, IA (can be east or west too) that’s only about 30 minutes away or so (doesn’t have to be exact, I’m not too picky about that) that has a population of 5,000 – 10,000?
I’ve grown up in a small town – population 2000… I liked it but it was a little too small because everyone knew everyone’s business. 5,000 is a good size.
Also – if there are any lakes around that area, I would like to know. I love the beach – I go almost every day during the summer!
I’m going to graduate school at Iowa State University in Ames, IA to be a nurse practitioner. Money isn’t really a big deal for me – most of my clinicals are paid, and pay well. I also have a husband who has his law enforcement degree so our money combined we could live in a more high-end place if necessary, but I wouldn’t mind living in a poorer town.
Best answer:
Answer by chefgrille
Marshalltown comes to mind. It’s east of Ames, but kind of a blue collar city. There’s really nothing north that would fit with your criteria. Ankeny is nice, I have friends who live there. I call it the yuppie suburb of Des Moines. (Although it’s not a suburb, it’s just that many young professionals live there and commute to either Des Moines or Ames, and it’s cheaper to live there.)
I’d have to pull up a map to remember the nearest lakes. There’s one just north of Ames, can’t remember the name now, just that a co-worker used to rollerblade around it. Gray’s Lake, Lake Rathburn, Clear Lake, Lake Panorama, Pine Lake. Although I’ll admit that it’s hard to find a decent beach in Iowa!
Best of luck in your studies, from an ISU alum!
