Clive vs West 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 | Clive | West Des Moines |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $434,028 | $326,596 |
| Value change, past year | +0.6% | +0.8% |
| Typical rent / mo | $1,524 | $1,369 |
| Homes for sale | 91 | 363 |
| Median days to pending | — | 20 days |
| Listings with price cuts | 29% | 29% |
| Median household income | $132,121 | $86,594 |
| Homeownership | 75% | 57% |
| Population | 19,012 | 71,083 |
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
- West Des Moines is the more affordable of the two — typical home values run about 25% below Clive.
- Renting is cheaper in West Des Moines, which matters if you plan to rent for a year before buying.
- Clive has the higher median household income of the two.
- West Des Moines is substantially larger than Clive — worth weighing if small-town feel is part of what you're after.
The character of each
Clive
A quiet, well-kept residential community wrapped around the Greenbelt Trail.
West Des Moines
The metro's retail and dining hub, with established and brand-new neighborhoods.
Schools
Clive: Split among several districts — primarily West Des Moines and Waukee, with some areas in Dallas Center–Grimes. The district can change block to block, so verify carefully.
West Des Moines: Primarily served by the West Des Moines Community School District, with parts in the Waukee and Clive areas attending neighboring districts. Confirm the exact attendance boundary for any specific address.
Getting around
Clive: Sits right along the I-35/80 corridor and University Ave; central enough for an easy commute across the metro.
West Des Moines: Quick access to I-35/80 and the Jordan Creek Parkway corridor; roughly 15–20 minutes to downtown Des Moines outside of rush hour.
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.