Teams
Forum List
Toggle sidebar

Relocation advice

I

illinoiscyclone

Well-Known Member
Jan 30, 2008
1,781
143
63
Wisconsin
Fanatics-


I probably shouldn't count my chickens before they hatch, but I am getting antsy.

I am interviewing for a job in the Eddyville area. Being from another state, I have limited knowledge of the area. In the event that I do get the job, where should I live?

Things I would take into account:


  • I am 22, and as such would like to live at least near somewhere I could have a good time, otherwise I will probably be making a lot of trips to Ames.
  • I will be making pretty good money for a recent graduate, but I still have loans to pay off so saving money is still important. That would mean rent and gas money has to be taken into account
  • I have a junker for a car, until I make enough money to buy something else.
  • I would prefer to live in the vicinity of a gym so I can work off all of this recent weight gain
  • I have a friend who works at the same place, and lives in Ottumwa. That would be the only reason any town has an edge over any other.
  • I am from a small town, and love that type of life. I, however, loved living in Ames.

The lady who spoke to me about the position had an office in minneapolis so she didn't know squat about the area. She said she thinks most employees live in pella.

Thanks in advance
 
My advice? Commuting = wasted life. Plus I bet you could live dirt cheap in Eddyville. If it's anything like the small town I'm originally from, I bet you could buy a decent house for $60,000. Or at least rent something nice for well under $300/month. Live close to work, save money on rent and gas (the short commute mitigates the need for a nicer car), and go visit your buddy in Ottumwa on the weekend for a good time.
 
  • Like
Reactions: illinoiscyclone
illinoiscyclone said:
Fanatics-


I probably shouldn't count my chickens before they hatch, but I am getting antsy.

I am interviewing for a job in the Eddyville area. Being from another state, I have limited knowledge of the area. In the event that I do get the job, where should I live?

Things I would take into account:


  • I am 22, and as such would like to live at least near somewhere I could have a good time, otherwise I will probably be making a lot of trips to Ames.
  • I will be making pretty good money for a recent graduate, but I still have loans to pay off so saving money is still important. That would mean rent and gas money has to be taken into account
  • I have a junker for a car, until I make enough money to buy something else.
  • I would prefer to live in the vicinity of a gym so I can work off all of this recent weight gain
  • I have a friend who works at the same place, and lives in Ottumwa. That would be the only reason any town has an edge over any other.
  • I am from a small town, and love that type of life. I, however, loved living in Ames.

The lady who spoke to me about the position had an office in minneapolis so she didn't know squat about the area. She said she thinks most employees live in pella.

Thanks in advance
Click to expand...

My son did an internship with Cargill Eddyville some years back. He stayed in Oskaloosa. It's a small town but has a college, William Penn. The town is very pleasant, clean and has nice old buildings. Welcome To The City of Oskaloosa

It's an easy drive up Hwy 163 to get to Des Moines for some bigger action. Personally I wouldn't recommend Ottumwa or Eddyville.
 
  • Like
Reactions: illinoiscyclone
Hard to pick one - Pella would be by far the nicest town, but would be a bit of a drive. Ottumwa and Oskaloosa both have well-deserved reputations as ****holes, but I'm sure there are decent areas in both. You might as well live in Eddyville and save the commute rather than live in either of those places. Don't know too much about Albia, other than I think there is a good steak joint there - may be worth checking out.
 
zwclones51 said:
What position are you applying for? Kinda sounds like a job my friend just interviewed for in Eddyville lol
Click to expand...

I am superstitious about these things and I don't even really like talking about interviews until they are over. However, I don't think they have interviewed yet, so probably not the same position.
 
When I was in my mid-twenties I lived in Oskaloosa for few years (late 80's early 90's). My wife has family that lives in Fremont, Ottumwa, and Eddyville. Personally, I would hate to have to live in the area again, just not the types of communities I care to live in. I also prefer the conveniences of larger metro areas. Osky is the easiest drive, then Ottumwa, then Pella. Osky and Pella would be closer to DSM/Ames, which is where I suspect you would spend alot of time come the weekends.
Albia might be another option. I think it is small, but it always seemed like a nice community when I passed though...more so that Eddyville or Osky. At least that's my two cents.
 
  • Like
Reactions: illinoiscyclone
I agree with the others who said to just live in Eddyville. I grew up in the general area and always drove by it on my way up to Ames. I hate to break it to you, but none of the places in the area are going to have a nightlife at all similar to Ames.

1) Ottumwa has a huge meat packing plant which makes it smell bad. It does have a good mexican restaurant though.
2) Osky doesn't have a whole lot there. It does have William Penn, but there are only like 400 students at that school.
3) Albia has the least of all of them, plus it's far away. It has a Pamida, and you know a town is no good when it has one of those.
4) Pella might have some kind of night life, but it's pretty far away.
5) Never been to Eddyville itself so I can't help you there. I think there is some kind of race track there, if you're into that stuff.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MidwestZest
I would choose Pella or Oksy. Don't know much about Albia. Ottumwa is the wrong direction from DSM/Ames.

Pella also has Red Rock right close by so you might pick up some summer lake activities for recreation if you're close by to there.
 
agrabes said:
I agree with the others who said to just live in Eddyville. I grew up in the general area and always drove by it on my way up to Ames. I hate to break it to you, but none of the places in the area are going to have a nightlife at all similar to Ames.

1) Ottumwa has a huge meat packing plant which makes it smell bad. It does have a good mexican restaurant though.
2) Osky doesn't have a whole lot there. It does have William Penn, but there are only like 400 students at that school.
3) Albia has the least of all of them, plus it's far away. It has a Pamida, and you know a town is no good when it has one of those.
4) Pella might have some kind of night life, but it's pretty far away.
5) Never been to Eddyville itself so I can't help you there. I think there is some kind of race track there, if you're into that stuff.
Click to expand...


You are obviously not familar with Dutch communities...
 
I would probably go with Osky if I was you. You'd be ok in Eddyville or Ottumwa as well but the commute from Osky isn't that much..maybe 15 minutes give or take. I'd say most people have a commute at least that long. I drive 45 miles to work every morning so I'd kill for 15 minutes. I live in Bloomfield and have several friends that work at Cargill, which is a 45 minute drive for them as well. That place has a pretty high turnover for various reasons so know that going in.
 
If you like small towns, but liked Ames....you can't do much better than Mason City.

Look at it. Most people think it's trashy but it's the exact opposite...lots of jobs too.
 
You need to look at Chillecothe, lots of affordable housing, especially if you like fixer-uppers. Right on the river for catfishing, turkey and mushroom hunting right out your back door.
 
M6WS6 said:
My thoughts exactly.... I am from NW Iowa and Pella is like Orange City, DUTCH! If you want to go out drinking, you go to the neighboring towns so no one sees you.... lol
Click to expand...

Heh, yeah you caught me. I never lived there but I assumed that with Central College in town there was at least something there. Of course, I now remember my friends who went to Central talking about how they always had to drive to Des Moines.
 
Assuming you'd be working at Cargill, so get a decent apartment on south side of Oskaloosa. It's a town with some rough edges, but it's not so bad. Definitely better than Ottumwa. You're not going to find much for night life anywhere down there, but you should be able to find a couple of favorite bars to hang out at in Osky. I know I did back in the day. :)
 
agrabes said:
I agree with the others who said to just live in Eddyville. I grew up in the general area and always drove by it on my way up to Ames. I hate to break it to you, but none of the places in the area are going to have a nightlife at all similar to Ames.

1) Ottumwa has a huge meat packing plant which makes it smell bad. It does have a good mexican restaurant though.
2) Osky doesn't have a whole lot there. It does have William Penn, but there are only like 400 students at that school.
3) Albia has the least of all of them, plus it's far away. It has a Pamida, and you know a town is no good when it has one of those.
Click to expand...
I know none of the places are going to have the nightlife similar to Ames, but as you said before william penn provides some young people to be around so that is a step in the right direction. I just don't want to go home after work and sit on playstation all the time.

My aunt from Mt Vernon, MO would disagree with the bolded part:spinny: she loves that place.

2020cy said:
You need to look at Chillecothe, lots of affordable housing, especially if you like fixer-uppers. Right on the river for catfishing, turkey and mushroom hunting right out your back door.
Click to expand...
You are barking right up my tree here. I was hoping if I do end up moving that way to finagle some hunting property.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Help Support Us

Become a patron
Top Bottom