Ankeny vs Des Moines
A side-by-side look at two Des Moines metro areas buyers often weigh against each other — current values, rents, market pace, and demographics.
Side by side
| Metric | Ankeny | Des Moines |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $342,159 | $213,036 |
| Value change, past year | +1.3% | +0.1% |
| Typical rent / mo | $1,520 | $1,121 |
| Homes for sale | 409 | 1,003 |
| Median days to pending | 18 days | 15 days |
| Listings with price cuts | 31% | 29% |
| Median household income | $108,198 | $65,932 |
| Homeownership | 71% | 60% |
| Population | 72,615 | 212,421 |
Home value, rent & market activity: Zillow Research (2026-08). Income & demographics: U.S. Census ACS (5-year). Cheaper figure highlighted where the two differ.
What the numbers say
- Des Moines is the more affordable of the two — typical home values run about 38% below Ankeny.
- Renting is cheaper in Des Moines, which matters if you plan to rent for a year before buying.
- Homes go under contract faster in Des Moines, so expect to move quicker there and to have a bit more room to negotiate in Ankeny.
- Ankeny has the higher median household income of the two.
- Des Moines is substantially larger than Ankeny — worth weighing if small-town feel is part of what you're after.
The character of each
Ankeny
The north metro's growth engine — new construction, new retail, and a lot of young families.
Des Moines
The capital city itself — historic neighborhoods and the metro's most affordable entry point.
Schools
Ankeny: Served by the Ankeny Community School District, which operates two high schools. Boundaries have shifted repeatedly with growth, so confirm for a specific address rather than a neighborhood.
Des Moines: Mostly Des Moines Public Schools, the largest district in Iowa, though the city's edges fall into neighboring districts. Attendance boundaries vary considerably within the city — verify by address.
Getting around
Ankeny: Straight down I-35 to downtown Des Moines, typically 20–25 minutes outside of peak. Rush hour on I-35 southbound is the main constraint.
Des Moines: The shortest commutes in the metro to downtown, with I-235 running through the city east–west. Many neighborhoods are within 10–15 minutes of the core.
Figures are area-wide typicals, not a valuation of any specific home. Verify school boundaries, property taxes, and current prices by address. Not real-estate or financial advice.