Urbandale is the Central Iowa "best of both" city. Established neighborhoods with mature trees. New construction at the edges. Top-rated schools. 15 minutes to anywhere in the metro. A community that's grown smart — adding density and walkability without losing the suburban character that brought families here in the first place. Urbandale moves at a different pace than the newer-growth cities, and that's part of what makes it work.
Why Urbandale keeps drawing Central Iowa families
- The Urbandale Community School District is consistently among Iowa's top-rated public school systems — with a particular reputation for academic depth and arts programming.
- Established + still growing. Unlike newer cities, Urbandale has mature trees, walkable older neighborhoods, AND active new construction at its edges. Rare combination.
- Centrally located. 15 minutes to downtown Des Moines, 10 to West Des Moines, 20 to Ankeny. The most-connected city in the metro.
- Stable demographics. Longer average homeownership tenure than newer cities — Urbandale residents tend to stay 8-15+ years.
Urbandale neighborhoods — knowing where to look
South Urbandale (south of Hickman Rd) — Established mid-century neighborhoods with mature trees, walkable streets, and proximity to West Des Moines. Lower turnover. Price range: $275K–$450K. Best for: first-time buyers, downsizers, anyone valuing established neighborhood feel.
Central Urbandale (Hickman to Aurora) — Mix of 1970s–2000s housing stock. Strong school zoning, family-heavy demographic. Price range: $325K–$525K. Best for: growing families who want the school district without committing to luxury pricing.
North Urbandale (north of Aurora to Meredith) — Newer construction, larger lots, more master-planned feel. Includes neighborhoods like Stoney Creek and Walnut Ridge. Price range: $425K–$725K. Best for: move-up buyers, families wanting newer construction.
Far north Urbandale (beyond Meredith, near Johnston border) — Newest construction in the city. Premium pricing, larger executive lots. Price range: $550K–$900K+. Best for: luxury + executive home buyers.
NW 86th Street commercial corridor — Not residential, but worth noting: the heart of Urbandale's commercial activity. Costco, Target, Hy-Vee, restaurants. Most Urbandale homes are within 10 minutes of this corridor.
What the Urbandale market looks like right now
- Steady, predictable demand. Urbandale doesn't have the boom-bust feel of the newest suburbs — it has measured, year-round buyer activity.
- Multiple-offer scenarios are common in the $325K–$475K range, especially in confirmed top school zones.
- Days on market: 10-25 days for properly-priced single-family. Premium school-zone homes often move in under 14 days.
- Inventory at higher price points (above $600K) is more negotiable — buyers have more leverage here than in newer-construction-heavy cities.
- Walk-out ranches in Urbandale are sought-after for both owner-occupants and house hackers.
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Schools in Urbandale
- Urbandale High School — Top-tier Iowa public high school. Strong AP curriculum, well-known arts and athletics.
- Urbandale Middle School — Single middle school for the district.
- 6 elementary schools — Karen Acres, Olmsted, Rolling Green, Valerius, Webster, and Jensen.
- Heritage Christian School + private alternatives are also based in Urbandale for families wanting private options.
Verify attendance zones for any specific address — Urbandale adjusts as enrollment shifts.
Things to do in Urbandale
- Walker Johnston Park — Urbandale's signature park with trails, splash pad, athletic fields.
- Lions Park + Karen Acres Park — Established neighborhood parks with playgrounds + walking paths.
- Living History Farms — National historic landmark just south of Urbandale.
- NW 86th Street commercial corridor — Major shopping + dining destination.
- Iowa Arboretum — 20 minutes south, 350 acres of trails.
- Urbandale Library + Senior Center — Active community programming year-round.
Major Urbandale employers + proximity
- Easy commute to downtown Des Moines — Principal, Wells Fargo, Nationwide, EMC, Meredith Corp.
- West Des Moines proximity — Hy-Vee corporate, Wellmark, FBL Financial.
- Local Urbandale employers — Pioneer/Corteva, Aviva, several major insurance + financial services offices.
- 15-minute access to Ankeny commercial corridor + the John Deere campus.
House hacking in Urbandale
Urbandale is one of the under-rated house-hack markets in the metro. Three things make it work:
- Walk-out ranches are common in Urbandale's mid-century neighborhoods, especially south of Hickman Rd. Easy to rent the basement separately.
- Rental demand is strong from young professionals working downtown + West Des Moines.
- Established neighborhoods mean stable comparable rents — you can model your numbers with confidence before you buy.
Full house hacking playbook here →
What clients say about working with me
"Working with Jackson was a pleasure. He is always extremely professional and keeps everyone in the transaction up to speed every step of the way. Jackson is one of the best in the business."
— David R., Realtor partner (Verified review)
Ready to make a move in Urbandale?
Urbandale rewards buyers who understand the school zoning, the neighborhood tiers, and the seasonality. I work this market — happy to walk you through what's on right now:
Nearby Central Iowa communities
Looking outside Urbandale? Johnston directly north shares many of the same characteristics with slightly different school zoning. Clive sits south with similar pricing + established character. Grimes is west — newer, more growth, lower entry prices.
Jackson Krile is a REALTOR® on the Flanders Team at RE/MAX Real Estate Center. Licensed in Iowa #S66867000. DMAAR + CIBR member.