From Iowa to Arizona
We associate Arizona mostly with tourism – hiking in nature, playing golf and relaxing in general. However, in recent years Phoenix and Arizona have gained a reputation for a great place to start a small business or a start-up, so there’s much more to do than just taking photos of the Grand Canyon.
Arizona’s economy has been on the rise. The state’s GDP was US$320.66 billion with a trend to grow despite the crisis. Most people are employed in healthcare, transportation, and government. The largest employers are Banner Health, Wal-Mart and Kroger.
In the last few years, Arizona and its capital – Phoenix, have gained a reputation for their excellent business climate. Both of them have seen a raise in startups, shared work-spaces, and business incubators. This highly contributes to the city’s economy and the SMEs.
Education is good
Arizona University is the top educational institution in the state. It has nearly 150k students and it’s a member of the University Research Association and is classified as “R1: Doctoral University-Advanced Research Activities”.
Culture is attractive and vibrant
Phoenix is a vibrant city and a cultural hub. Visual arts have been in the spotlight, and many new galleries were opened. They take their place along established institutions like Phoenix Symphony Orchestra, Arizona Opera House and Arizona Ballet.
Goodbye Iowa!
Iowa is a calm place in the heart of the US Midwest. For a long time, Iowa had the reputation of an agricultural state, but recently the state made a transition through heavy and green industry.
The name Iowa comes from the Iowan people, but the state has a strong French vibe that can even be seen on the flag! Iowa has a population of about 3.2 million. Des Moines is the state’s capital, largest town, and center of the largest metro. The state is a home of some famous artists like novelist Peter Hedges, jazz musician Bix Bedbeck, and Slipknot’s Corey Taylor.
Disadvantages of living in Iowa
-Situated a bit far from most beaches and mountains, nature is one of the major cons of Iowa.
-The winters can be really harsh.
-There are still places with lagging economy and a high crime rate.
-Public transport is not very well developed.
Des Moines is by far cheaper than Phoenix. With nearly equal median income, the Iowan capital has lower home price, housing, utilities and transportation. Phoenix has a cheaper healthcare and slightly pricier groceries.