I Couldn’t Wait to Leave Iowa — Now I Can’t Imagine Leaving

“Coverage of Iowa is typically filled with cliches…What’s missing from the narrative is the quiet richness of life here, and why my husband and I have intentionally chosen to raise our family in this corner of the Midwest…”

Written by Kaci Smith

I couldn’t get out of here fast enough. With graduation looming and my best friends, even my long term boyfriend staying in state for college - I think many seventeen year olds from small towns in Iowa would lean towards keeping with what they know, but I was ready to go. I wanted to experience new people, places, and things. Off I went.

The pangs of homesickness hit me swiftly and completely within weeks. I missed all my old people, places, and things. I would walk into a classroom, smiling and offering an eager “hello” to anyone who’d make eye contact with me - but my midwestern warmth was not readily reciprocated. 

Eventually I fell into a rhythm and found my groove living outside Iowa. I learned to be more assertive, independent, and confident in myself and my surroundings. I would eventually move again, but to a big city – Chicago, and fell in love with living there. It was close enough to get home if I needed (6 hour drive) but far enough away and with enough freedom and fun that I could really get to work on finding myself and creating my own life. There were so many opportunities that came into my life while I was living there– simply by meeting and getting to know the right people. A job teaching kids dance led to a nannying gig. That nannying gig led to me getting an interview for an entry level job at a large corporation, and I ended up climbing the corporate ladder and staying in that industry for another 14 years. 

When I met the man who would become my future husband on my first day at that corporate job and he told me he was also from Iowa – I knew it was fate. We eventually decided to move back to Iowa to raise a family and lead a slower life. 

For all the homesickness I felt when I initially left Iowa, I felt the same way about Chicago when we left. For 2-3 years, I questioned our decision. Should we go back? I missed my friends, my colleagues, and the access to restaurants, museums, and all of the wonderful things there are to do in Chicago. We almost went back several times – we even toured potential homes in the suburbs. Ultimately though, it never felt “right” – and now I know why.

We’re meant to be here in Iowa. We want to be here.

Why We Chose to Stay in Iowa

Coverage of Iowa is typically filled with cliches and frankly – rude depictions of what it means to live in a flyover state. What’s missing from the narrative is the quiet richness of life here, and why my husband and I have intentionally chosen to raise our family in this corner of the Midwest.

Here are five reasons we continue to call Iowa home:

1. The kindness is real — and constant.
Whether you're in a small town or one of Iowa’s larger cities, the everyday warmth is unmistakable. Walk into a local diner and someone will meet your eye and greet you — staff and guests alike. That same friendliness plays out in tiny gestures: neighbors waving as you pass by, strangers offering help without hesitation. It’s not performative — it’s just the rhythm of life here. And over time, it becomes your rhythm, too.

2. It’s a safe, steady place to raise kids.

That childhood memory of riding bikes until the sun goes down? It’s not just a nostalgic idea here — it’s real life. Our kids have the kind of freedom I grew up with, and it’s something I treasure more than I ever expected. Iowa’s crime rates are well below the national average, which means we get to spend less time worrying and more time letting them explore.

3. Status is measured by effort, not aesthetics.
There’s a refreshing lack of pretense here. People are more likely to notice your character and work ethic than your watch or car. While Iowa certainly has wealth (often in the form of legacy farming or multi-generational business ownership), it’s rarely flashy. There’s more value placed on honesty, humility, and getting the job done than on trend-chasing or appearances.

4. We’re more connected than people think.

Iowa might feel tucked away, but it’s not isolated. Des Moines and Cedar Rapids both offer convenient airport access, and cities like Chicago, Kansas City, and Minneapolis are an easy drive away. Whether it’s for work, family, or a quick change of scenery, we’re able to get out when we need to — and just as importantly, come home to a quieter pace when we’re ready.

5. The food here is personal.

In Iowa, the connection between land and table isn’t just a nice idea — it’s how things work. We know where our food comes from, whether it’s the local farm stand, the family-owned butcher, or the neighbor’s garden. The quality is there, but so is the heart. Meals are often simple and grounded in something real — and that makes them better.

In the end, Iowa gives me exactly what I didn’t know I was looking for — space, grounding, and peace. We didn’t stay because it was the easy choice. We stayed because it turned out to be the right one. And the longer we live here, the more grateful I am that we came home.