Moving from Illinois to Iowa
Large and diverse, Illinois is often called a microcosm of the whole of the US. The presence of natural resources, developed agriculture, and one of the largest cities in the US – Chicago, earn Illinois this nickname.
Chicago is clearly the largest and most-famous city in the state and center of the Chicago metropolitan area. Both the city and the metro rank third in the US – Chicago has a population of around 2.7 million, while the metro is more than 9 million large.
Illinois has the fifth-largest GDP in the United States, albeit primary to Chicago. The diverse economy gives Illinois the GDP of nearly $1 billion and an unemployment rate of barely 4.2%.
Springfield’s economy revolves around the government institutions in town. They give employment to as many as 20.000 people.
Illinois is the home of eleven National Universities and several globally top-ranked business schools like Booth School of Business and Kellogg School of Management. And so are the the University of Chicago and the Northwestern University. Still many decide to leave it. And the outward trend only grew in 2020.
Welcome to Iowa – The Hawkeye State
The name of Iowa comes from the people of Iowa. However, the state is under a strong French influence and can even be seen on the national flag!
The population of Iowa is approximately 3.2 million. Des Moines is the state’s capital, largest town, and largest metro center.
Iowa is a quiet place in the heart of the Midwestern United States. Iowa has enjoyed the reputation of being an agricultural state, but not long ago the state has completed a transformation through heavy and green industry.
State Economy
Iowa is home to Fortune 500 companies, including Principal Financial Group and Casey Department Store. There are also large number of insurance companies, financial institutions and various manufacturers such as Heinz, Procter & Gamble, Bridgestone and Vermeer. Recently, Microsoft, HP and Facebook have established data processing and logistics facilities in the Des Moines area.
Higher Education
The Iowa State Board of Directors is the head of Iowa Education. They manage the University of Iowa, Iowa State University, and the University of Northern Iowa. The board also serves the Iowa School for the Deaf and the Iowa Braille and Sight Rescue School (two public special schools in the state).
The largest universities in the state are Iowa State University, Des Moines Regional Community College and the University of Iowa.
Cultural contributions
The state of Iowa gave the way to some famous artists such as novelist Peter Hedges, jazz musician Bix Beiderbecke and Slipknot’s Corey Taylor.
Sports are imports
The fierce competition between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Iowa Hurricanes determines the state’s sports landscape. University sports are highly developed. The state has four major college teams participating in all NCAA Level 1 sports.
Disadvantages of living in Iowa
- Away from most beaches and mountains, nature is one of Iowa’s main disadvantages.
- The winter is really harsh.
- Iowa has places with economic backwardness and high crime rates.
- Public transportation is not well developed
Springfield vs. Des Moines
Despite the differences in the states, the two capitals are pretty similar, sharing a lot of close stats. Still, Des Moines leads the race a little bit due to its largest population, lower unemployment, and utilities.