A farmer harvests crops in Burlington, Japan. Scott Olson/Getty Images
The Midwest has a reputation for friendly people, cheap land, and a stress-free lifestyle that differs dramatically from other regions of the US.
Many people flock to the Midwest for its affordable cost of living, open spaces, and relaxed pace of life.
Here are 6 ways the Midwest is different from the rest of the country.
There is only one place in the US where traffic jams are often caused by tractors on the road and weekends consist of floating down rivers and modeling clothes in the aisles of Walmart.
Middle America has long been classified as “flyover country,” consisting of more cornfields than major metropolises and mom-and-pop shops than Fortune 500 companies, but 12 states that make up the Midwest have a richer culture than many people give it credit for — take it from me, a small-town Ohio native.
In my hometown, “porch sitting” is a perfect and popular pastime, the parking lot of our only supermarket is a common meeting place, and Friday nights usually include a high school football game.
About 21 percent of the nation's population calls this region — North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio — home, according to 2017 US Censusand that number is growing. the Daily Beast reported that lately, Millennials are kissing big-city dreams goodbye to seek out lower housing costs in cities like Kansas City, Minneapolis and Indianapolis.
But while this influx of 20- and 30-somethings is proof that America's breadbasket is undergoing major changes, some Midwest traditions are simply entrenched. Here are six ways the Midwest differs from the rest of the country.
1. People are really nice
If you're a little down on your luck, your neighbors might show up with dinner. SpeedKingz/Shutterstock
It's true: some stereotypes are built on lies with bold faces. However, the archetype that Midwesterners are—sometimes disturbingly—nice is rooted in truth. Cambridge University released 2013 study assessing the personality traits of more than 1.5 million people and found that Midwesterners had “moderately high levels of extraversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness.”
Residents of the so-called heart smile and wave to every person you pass, friends and strangers, on sidewalks and in supermarket aisles. I speak from experience when I say that they will even show up on your doorstep with a homemade pot if they see a broken down car on the road or if they get a whiff of death in the family.
2. The weather is unpredictable and extreme
Summers are sweltering and winters are freezing. Brian Kersey/Getty Images
In Los Angeles, one could wear a summer dress almost every day and I rarely need to pack an umbrella at the last moment. Midwesterners, on the other hand, never know whether to wear a parka, a crop top, or a poncho.
The climate can change from day to day or hour to hour. According to a 2016 study by Save On Energythe top 10 US cities with the most unpredictable weather – including Sioux Falls, Minneapolis and St. Paul at the top – they're all in the Midwest.
Whatever the weather, it's almost always extreme. No oceans to regulate the temperature, USA Today reportedsummers tend to be sweltering and winters bitterly cold.
3. Midwesterners are always finding new ways to have fun
A night out can include a bonfire and a smorgasbord. Mike Lawrie/Getty Images
Although Cambridge University study ranking the East and West Coasts higher on the creative spectrum, anyone who grew up in the Midwest would probably agree that living in the region requires creativity when it comes to finding entertainment.
Nights out often involve bonfire parties, Euchre (a card game) contests, and late-night trips to Walmart. according to Good Housekeepingand Sunday afternoons during the summer, cornmeal is king.
4. Life may be slower, but it's not shorter
Chicago commuters walking to work. Scott Olson/Getty Images
When it comes to work-life balance, many Midwesterners seem to get it right. That's not to say, however, that Midwesterners—whether they're city dwellers or country dwellers—have less ambition than coastal Americans.
Crowd Companies Founder Jeremiah Owyang asked Midwesterners in his network about what they consider “Midwestern values” when it comes to work. After collecting their answers, he he wrote to VentureBeat that “both Silicon Valley and the Midwest share the same hard work ethic.” Owyang also said Silicon Valley could take a few cues from Midwesterners' modest integrity and genuine willingness to help others.
A slower lifestyle also means less stress. Earlier this year, WalletHub published a study ranks states by stress levels, and four of the five least stressed states were in the Midwest: Minnesota, North Dakota, Iowa and South Dakota.
5. There is more room for movement
Fredericksburg, Iowa. Scott Olson/Getty Images
Maybe Midwesterners get less stressed because they have more room to breathe. Wyoming, for example, is the least densely populated state in the contiguous U.S., with only about six residents per square mile — compared to Washington, D.C., which tops the list with 11,377 heads per square mile, followed by New Jersey, with 1,225 — according to 2017 US Census.
Not everyone likes looking at open fields of wheat and rows upon rows of corn, but that's exactly what gives Midwesterners so much space.
6. A dollar goes farther in the Midwest
A home for sale in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin. Scott Olson/Getty Images
While the Midwest has long been known and appreciated for its open spaces, it may not be able to maintain that reputation much longer. More people are flocking to the area because it is affordable.
According recent US News report, Ohio is the least expensive state to live in, based on cost of living and housing costs. Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri also made the list of the 10 most affordable states to live.
As the Millennial generation enters the housing market, a surprising number are settling in cities like Athens, Ohio. Aberdeen, South Dakota; and Williston, North Dakota, USA Today reportedwhich shows that things in small town America are about to see a big change.
