Is there a significance to Iowa references in House M.D.?

I realize this may be a reach, but I noticed something odd in season 1 of House:

In episode 15, there was a mention of Des Moines (Iowa).

House: You’re worried about how his coworkers will react in the Walmart in Des Moines.

Bill: He’s not going into Witness Protection, I won’t let that happen

And in episode 17:

House: Which means the Great Black Hope has full-blown AIDS. They’re gonna love that in Dubuque.

Season 2 episode 2:

House: You'll all be wearing cat suits in Des Moines.

Season 6 episode 3:

Thirteen: Her name was Lindsey. She was a cheerleader from Iowa.

The Dubuque line has some historic significance, as it was once the "Whitest city in America", which made national news. Yet, I'm sure there's plenty of towns or incidents that'd be more relevant to the 2004 audience of the show.

Des Moines often gets referenced in media, usually as a way to reference the Midwest. Sometimes I hear Dubuque mentioned, again in a way that seems to just clearly reference the Midwest, but maybe more Midwestern-y that Des Moines.

Getting two references in three consecutive episodes is not something I've noticed before, as an Iowa native. Those things stand out!

Is there an explanation for this, instead of just a trope-like way of referring to rural America? Is some of the writing staff from Iowa?