Iowa's College Cities: Future Boom Towns in the Making?

We can all agree that there are some great towns to call home in the Hawkeye State. Outside of Iowa, the only spots that non-Midwesterners know of is Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Iowa City.

But what about some of our beloved smaller towns?

Or the towns that just don't get as much love on a national level.

Well, MSN put together an interesting list. It ranks the thirty under-the-radar American cities that could be massive in fifty years.

Two Iowa towns came out on top of this list, so by 2074 they could be booming metropolises!

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How Did They Determine Which Towns Made the List?

There were some key factors that went into determining which towns made this list. This included job and salary growth opportunities, amenities, culture, crime rates, and recreation.

Now What Iowa Towns Made the List?

It makes total sense that these two Iowa towns made the list.

Coming in at number four is Cedar Falls. Home of the University of Northern Iowa, this town is something straight out of a Hallmark movie.

And I can say that emphatically because I lived in the bustling, historic downtown district in Cedar Falls for years. There are a whole bunch of shops, restaurants, boutiques, and events hosted in this college town.

Don't even get me started on the amazing bike and hiking trails everyone needs to check out.

"Outdoor enthusiasts relocate to Cedar Falls for outdoor exploration opportunities because there are 100 miles of trails around town," said the author of the MSN piece.

Now onto the second Iowa town...

Right below the home of the UNI Panthers, closing in at number five on the list is Ames.

Another college town ends up ranking pretty high on this list!

With a population of 97,117 is the home of Iowa State University. 

In 2022, Ames had a net migration rate of .54% AND is  in the top 15% nationwide for high-tech GDP growth, according to reports.

Other Towns on the List

Here is the full list of 'Under-The-Radar American Cities that Could be Massive in 50 Years.'

1. Leander, Texas
2. Cary, North Carolina
3. Georgetown, Texas
4. Cedar Falls, Iowa
5. Ames, Iowa
6. Gainesville, Georgia
7. New Braunfels, Texas
8. Round Rock, Texas
9. Queen Creek, Arizona
10. Berlin, Maryland
11. Casa Grande, Arizona
12. Redding, California
13. Santa Cruz, California
14. Burlington, Vermont
15. North Port, Florida
16. Buckeye, Arizona
17. Little Elm, Texas
18. Enterprise, Nevada
19. Ithaca, New York
20. Conroe, Texas

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