One Iowa City is a Top 25 Place to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse

We've all had those daydreams during a slow day at work or school: if a crisis were to occur, where would we go? Would our flight instincts consume us, or would we try and fight whatever forces were upon us? What if zombies broke into your office door at this very moment? What would your first instinct be?

I'd be lying if I said I didn't entertain those questions in my head when whatever trigonometry or chemistry I was learning in school on that given day didn't interest me. I know I can't be alone after seeing this comprehensive breakdown.

Lawn Love recently released its 2022 survey breaking down the best and worst cities in which to survive a zombie apocalypse. How does one quantify such an abstract event? Lawn Love ranked 200 cities in America on four key metrics: vulnerability, hideouts, supplies, and protection.

While an Iowa city didn't crack the top 10, Des Moines, IA did make the top 25. Ranked at #24, Des Moines was considered an "ideal candidate" because it's a city in a state that leans toward an "off-grid lifestyle," according to Lawn Love:

Des Moines' population is especially at risk of being outpaced by limping zombies due to a low physical inactivity rate, so staying inside and away from others (dead or alive) here would be to the locals' advantage.

The Midwest as a whole ranked pretty favorably in this survey, specifically the Kansas City metro area, the Twin Cities, and Naperville, IL (home of my alma matter). Lawn Love furthered justified the Midwest as an ideal hideout because the region has ample square footage, not to mention basements that could feasibly serve as bunkers.

Orlando, FL came in at #1 with the highest rankings in all the aforementioned categories, specifically in the realm of supplies and protection. One of the key factors in its high ranking was the fact that it's a city that has many hospitals per capita (#30 in the country), which could work in containing a disease outbreak relatively quickly. It was also plentiful in both food and combat supplies.

Now, if you've seen the movie Army of the Dead on Netflix, you might be led to believe Las Vegas would rank fairly high on the list. While Vegas proper ranks at #19, five of the bottom 10 cities are around Sin City. The one city you don't want to be in when zombies begin their reign is Sunrise Manor, NV. It came in dead last, failing in all major categories:

Enterprise is only 88th most vulnerable overall, homes are spacious in Spring Valley (No. 7) and Sunrise Manor (No. 15), and North Las Vegas is one of the most walkable (No. 26).

See the complete results of Lawn Love's zombie apocalypse survey here!