These three Iowa cities rank among the country's 100 best places to live, study says

Iowa City, Ames and Des Moines rank among some of the U.S.'s best small and mid-size American cities, according to a study conducted by Livability.com in partnership with Ipsos.

While none of the cities cracked the top 50, they outpaced more than 1,000 cities with populations between 20,000 and one million people, according to a news release from Livability. Iowa City is Iowa's highest-ranked city at No. 58, followed by Ames at No. 64 and Des Moines at No. 93.

The 2021 list was guided by a survey of 1,000 U.S. adults, who were asked about which "livability characteristics" they value, the news release said. Respondents were asked which factors they would consider when choosing to relocate, and how their needs and priorities have changed since the start of the pandemic.

Small to mid-size U.S. cities were ranked on 50 data points based on the following categories:

• Economics
• Housing
• Amenities
• Infrastructure
• Demographics
• Social and civic capital
• Education
• Health care

Iowa City was highlighted as being "home to the University of Iowa, a growing startup scene, top-notch health care and a charming, walkable downtown." Livability noted the college town's status as a UNESCO City of Literature, as well as its "many fun festivals," including the Iowa Arts Festival, Mission Creek Festival and Downtown Block Party. (FYI: the 13th annual Iowa City Book Festival ends Sunday.)

More: What you will find at Iowa City Book Festival's week of literary activities, including local authors

Ames, home to Iowa State University, "boasts a growing tech sector, miles of trails, creative outdoor art and dozens of parks," according to Livability. Family-owned barbecue restaurant Hickory Park, Alluvial Brewing Company and Wallaby’s Bar & Grille were listed as local standards. And Treats on a Leash on Main Street should be an enticing draw for pet owners, Livability says.

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Des Moines is a place where "big ideas are encouraged," according to Livability, which called Iowa's capital an "artsy, outdoorsy community" with "family-friendly perks." Among Livability's favorite Des Moines attractions: the Downtown Farmer's Market, Tursi's Latin King and 300 Craft & Rooftop.

Off Hours: 'Meat' the best Des Moines-area butchers, yoga in a plant oasis and cheesy corn cakes

This year's list by Livability was shaped by how the pandemic has increased remote work, the news release said.

“These past two years have shown us how important it is that the places we live meet our needs and offer up affordability, opportunity and plenty of amenities," said Cara Sanders, Livability.com managing editor. "If we can work from anywhere, then these 100 cities are places you would want to live and make remote workers’ needs a top priority.”

While more Americans are working from home now than before March 2020, remote employees still make up a minority of the U.S. workforce. The peak of telework was in May 2020, when 35% of U.S. workers were working remotely, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. By the end of this summer, just 13.4% were working from home.

Still, the majority of U.S. white-collar workers work remotely, and around 40% of them would prefer to continue doing so, according to a May Gallup poll. Workers in education also report high remote-work rates, the poll found, but only 19% want to continue working from home.

Isabella Rosario is a public safety reporter for the Ames Tribune. She can be reached by email at irosario@gannett.com or on Twitter at @irosarioc.