Des Moines Named Best City for Business

Des Moines, Iowa, has been named “America’s best city to do business,” according to an annual survey by MarketWatch.

Des Moines beat cities such as Washington D.C., Omaha, Neb., and Minneapolis/St. Paul in the survey that compared economic strength and business climate of more than 100 cities across the country.

MarketWatch cited Des Moines’ relatively low unemployment rate and said its financial and insurance services companies are doing well. MarketWatch also said Des Moines has grown over the past 20 years and lured a number of businesses to town, while retaining manageable commutes and better air quality.

The survey included metro areas with a population of more than 500,000.

MarketWatch is a Dow Jones & Co. business-focused Web site, which offers investors information and analysis on a wide range of financial issues.