Buying a Home in Indianola
A genuine small college town south of the metro, with a longer commute and lower prices.
Indianola sits in Warren County, south of the metro proper, and it reads as its own town rather than a suburb — a courthouse square, a private college, and a distinct identity built partly around hot-air ballooning.
The tradeoff is straightforward: more house and more town character for the money, in exchange for the metro's longest regular commute among the areas covered here.
Highlights
- Simpson College and the campus-town atmosphere around it
- The National Balloon Classic and National Balloon Museum
- A traditional town square with independent local businesses
- Lower typical prices than the northern and western suburbs
Indianola by the numbers
Home value, rent & market activity: Zillow Research (2026-08). Income & demographics: U.S. Census ACS (5-year).
Browse current Indianola listings on Zillow →
Schools
Served by the Indianola Community School District, which covers the city and a substantial rural area around it.
Getting around
South of the metro on US-65/69 — commonly 30+ minutes to downtown Des Moines, and the longest regular commute among these areas.
Compare Indianola
How it stacks up against the areas buyers most often weigh against it:
Metro context
Source: Realtor.com via FRED (metro); Zillow Research (value/rent); U.S. Census ACS (demographics) · Des Moines–West Des Moines, IA · updated 2026-08.
Estimate buy vs rent for Indianola →
General guide only — verify school boundaries, taxes, and current prices for any specific address. Not real-estate or financial advice.