Prairie City, IA

Located about 20 miles east of Des Moines, Prairie City is a quiet, friendly community of roughly 1,700 residents. It offers a classic small-town pace where neighbors know one another and kids easily walk to neighborhood parks and ball fields. While the town has added newer homes over the years, it maintains a relaxed rural atmosphere that makes it a great landing spot for commuters looking for open space.

ATTRBill Whittaker ( talk ) / CC BY-SA 3.0

A standout feature of the area is the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge right next door, giving locals easy access to thousands of acres of prairie trails and bison viewing. Younger kids attend Prairie City Elementary right in town before moving on to the PCM middle and high schools in neighboring Monroe. Between summertime traditions like the annual Prairie Days festival and the straightforward drive into Des Moines for work and weekend dining, Prairie City delivers a comfortable balance of outdoor room and everyday convenience.