Clive is the established west-metro suburb that has had decades to build a real community — mature trees, the Clive Greenbelt Trail, and access to both Waukee and WDM (Valley) school districts. If you're considering a move to Clive, here's the honest assessment from someone who works this market daily.
You'll love Clive if you...
The Waukee Community School District / West Des Moines Community School District (Valley) serves Waukee: large district; WDM: large district students. Large, modern facilities, strong APEX career-college readiness program, comprehensive academics + athletics. (For Clive addresses in Waukee district)
For specific school-level performance metrics, the Iowa Department of Education's School Performance Profiles tool is the most current objective source. I also keep a separate deep-dive on Clive schools if you want every detail.
Clive has several distinct sub-markets, each with its own character: Country Club Glen, Country Club Estates, Hidden Pines, Woodland Glenn. Each has different pricing, character, and target buyer. For specific neighborhood guidance, I work through this individually during the buyer consultation.
8 minutes to West Des Moines / Jordan Creek. 15 minutes to downtown Des Moines.
Clive Greenbelt Trail (11 miles along Walnut Creek) is the community's anchor amenity — what residents talk about, what visitors come for, and what frequently appears in real estate listings as a value-add. If outdoor recreation, community events, or specific cultural anchors matter to you, Clive's identity around its anchor is one of the strongest in Central Iowa.
Median sale prices in Clive have run in the $400K-$650K range over the past 12 months, with new construction in limited — most new builds happening in adjacent Waukee/WDM, not Clive itself pushing the upper end. Days on market vary by price point and neighborhood — well-priced homes in popular zones move within 7-21 days; higher-priced or unique homes may take 30-90 days.
For a current snapshot of Clive inventory + pricing, I send a free monthly Central Iowa market report. Subscribe at Jackson's Hub.
Whether you're a first-time buyer, a move-up family, or a relocation buyer evaluating Clive for the first time, I can walk through what your specific budget gets you here vs. competing communities. No pressure, no sales pitch — just the numbers and the honest reality of the market.
Jackson Krile is a REALTOR® on the Flanders Team at RE/MAX Real Estate Center. Licensed in Iowa #S66867000. DMAAR + CIBR member. Serving Central Iowa.
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