Grimes vs Waukee
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 | Grimes | Waukee |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $351,743 | $343,420 |
| Value change, past year | -0.4% | -1.9% |
| Typical rent / mo | $1,435 | $1,665 |
| Homes for sale | 94 | 200 |
| Median days to pending | 23 days | 22 days |
| Listings with price cuts | 25% | 28% |
| Median household income | $120,037 | $101,029 |
| Homeownership | 71% | 67% |
| Population | 16,366 | 29,236 |
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
- Typical home values are within a few percent of each other, so price alone is unlikely to decide this one.
- Renting is cheaper in Grimes, which matters if you plan to rent for a year before buying.
- Homes go under contract faster in Waukee, so expect to move quicker there and to have a bit more room to negotiate in Grimes.
- Grimes has the higher median household income of the two.
- Waukee is substantially larger than Grimes — worth weighing if small-town feel is part of what you're after.
The character of each
Grimes
Fast-growing northwest suburb with heavy new construction and small-town roots.
Waukee
One of Iowa's fastest-growing cities — lots of new construction and young families.
Schools
Grimes: Primarily the Dallas Center–Grimes Community School District, with some areas in Johnston or Woodward–Granger. Boundaries move with growth — verify by address.
Waukee: Served by the Waukee Community School District, one of the state's largest and fastest-growing, which now operates multiple high schools. Verify the boundary for a given neighborhood, as they shift with growth.
Getting around
Grimes: Northwest metro via Highway 141 and I-35/80; roughly 20–25 minutes to downtown depending on the route.
Waukee: West-metro location with access via University Ave, Hickman Rd, and I-80; budget extra time to reach downtown during peak hours.
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.