Life in the Quad Cities?

June 13, 2007 5:14 PM

We are semi-retired and live (and grew up) in Chicago. I went to college in a little river town along the Mississippi in Iowa and we're now thinking about moving to the Quad Cities as we are sick of the density, smog and crime in Chicago and long for slower, more peaceful days. There are some great running trails and fantastic old homes in Iowa in the Historic District, near the River, which appeal to us very much, but I'm worried about the lack of top notch hospitals/doctors and the fact that Iowa taxes both out of state pensions and Social Security. Any thoughts on the benefits or lack of same of the Quads? My husband and I both have some health problems but not immediate ones . Our specialists are in Chicago but I hate to think that we will not be able to enjoy the rest of our lives (we are 63 and 64) waiting for the Grim Reaper or trip to the ER. Thanks for any help.
posted by Tullyogallaghan to Home & Garden (10 answers total)

I grew up in Rock Island. My family always heads to the university hospital in Iowa City whenever any major health problems pop up. It's only an hour drive, and is a pretty well respected facility.

On the tax situation, you could always live on the Illinois side of the river. It's a small enough city that you can get anywhere you like quickly. There are some very nice older homes near Blackhawk park.
posted by Eddie Mars at 7:32 PM on June 13, 2007

Iowa City is about 1/2 hour away and has a top notch hospital at U-Iowa.
posted by jpdoane at 7:47 PM on June 13, 2007

On a more personal level, I think the Quad Cities are very nice. A little slow, like you mention, but not completely catatonic, if you take my meaning.
One nice thing about the area is that there is a fair amount of diversity thanks largely to the manufacturing jobs (John Deere, Case, Caterpillar). Those jobs are gone now, but Davenport has seen a renaissance over the last decade that has helped the other cities to recover a bit too.
The next time you're in town, be sure to check out Jim's Rib Haven followed by Whitey's Ice Cream. Those are the two things I miss most about moving away.
posted by Eddie Mars at 7:56 PM on June 13, 2007

Iowa City is an hour away, though only minutes by helicopter when absolutely needed (I make this trip [by car] weekly, trust me). I sent you an email about some health-related specifics. Was the "college town" on the Mississippi Dubuque by any chance? I think it's a bit cooler than Davenport these days. It's smaller, but plays bigger than it is. It might be worth looking in to if you're not set on Davenport. The QC area has a lot more people (4 or 5x depending on how you count), but due to the parochial nature of the local governments (and the state goverments), it doesn't feel like it has 300k people. That can be good or bad depending on how you look at it.
posted by the christopher hundreds at 8:04 PM on June 13, 2007

Oh, and Eddie Mars is right about Jim's and Whitey's. There's also the 11th Street Precinct, which has some of the greatest pork tenderloins and fresh-cut fries you can imagine. It's in East Davenport just off Mound Street, near the area you are thinking about moving to.
posted by the christopher hundreds at 8:09 PM on June 13, 2007

Davenport has been getting more crime lately. As a matter of fact, a family friend got jumped in a Davenport bar a few days ago and got his face beat in. From the sound of things, it wasn't an isolated incident. I have always preferred Rock Island. They seem to be actively courting entertainment venues and are interested in engaging their citizens. You can always get across the river for some baseball on the riverfront or for the Bix.

You might want to think about actually settling down in Iowa City. Although certain parts of the city are overrun by college students, there are some very charming neighborhoods. There are plenty of things to do and lots of cultural events. You could also choose one of the small towns around the Iowa City area, like North Liberty or West Liberty, that are decent places to live. U of I is an excellent hospital, especially for a few specialties like ear/nose/throat.

You could try another close city, Muscatine. Not a ton of stuff to do but there are some beautiful old homes and the bluffs along the Mississippi are pretty. If you do decide to try a small town near the QC, make sure it has its own high school. A small town without one has little going for itself.
posted by Foam Pants at 11:22 PM on June 13, 2007

FP is right, crime is bad in certain neighborhoods in Davenport. One of the state's Department of Corrections officials also owns and operates private halfway houses in the city (shady, huh?), so there is a high convict presence on the west side of town. Rock Island has some nice neighborhoods, but nothing to compare with McClellan Heights. It also has its own crime problems.

Iowa City might be an option. There are a lot of senior(ish) folks here for proximity to the hospital and many good neighborhoods. What you won't find here are cheap homes. Compared to Chicago, its a relative bargain, but next to the rest of Iowa, it costs a fortune.
posted by the christopher hundreds at 6:15 AM on June 14, 2007

My grandparents, much older than you and with apparently more serious health problems, live in Florida but insist on seeing a doctor in Arkansas. So, twice a year, they drive all that way. It's nonsensical to me, but driving across IL (or flying, if you have the means) to see your specialists makes a lot more sense.
posted by desjardins at 6:47 AM on June 14, 2007

Have you looked at Peoria? It is really turning out to be a nice town with the Illinois river running through it, lots of walking and biking trails and a pretty good medical center. Moreover, you are already familiar with Illinois' tax laws and would only be a 3 hour drive from specialists in Chicago.

Besides, friends don't let friends move to Iowa.
posted by jmgorman at 8:43 AM on June 14, 2007

I realize you only mentioned crime in passing but you are dead wrong in your assumption that you are going to be safer in the country than in the city. crime in the largest three cities of the United States is way down while crime in smaller cities and rural areas is up. here is a recent economist article explaining this development.

you may merely have a different opinion because it's so easy for local news to cover these kinds of inidents. they know they will keep you glued to that tube if they play into your (in this case unreasonable) fears.
posted by krautland at 9:41 AM on June 14, 2007