Waterbury
Suburban Neighborhood in Des Moines, Iowa
Polk County 50312
Tudor Revivals in Waterbury
Brick and paved sidewalks line many of the neighborhood’s streets, although some lots extend to the road. Homes from the late 19th and early to mid-20th centuries are nestled on grassy lawns with mature trees. Many lawns are decorated with blossoming gardens and green shrubbery. A variety of housing styles fill Waterbury. Tudor Revivals with ivy clinging to their stone foundations are next to Colonial Revivals, while bungalows and Cape Cods sit across the street. Homebuyers can find a three-bedroom for $350,000 to $550,000 and a four-bedroom for $450,000 to $800,000; two-bedrooms often cost less than $250,000. Waterbury's median single-family home price is nearly twice as much as in Des Moines. About 80% of residents own their homes. “People love the old-growth trees and the older homes that have more of an idyllic character," says Realtor Diane Todd Brown, who sells houses in the neighborhood with Iowa Realty. “This is a place where people settle down for the long term.”Greenwood Park’s rose garden just outside Waterbury
The Clare and Miles Mills Rose Garden, located in Greenwood Park, has been blooming since 1933. It features over 2,000 roses of 100 varieties that people can stroll through and enjoy. “It’s filled with people taking photos before every high school dance,” Green says of the park that's also popular for flower-filled wedding photos and senior portraits. The rest of Greenwood Park features a sprayground, tennis court and a pond that, when frozen, is a destination for ice skating. Neighboring the park is the Des Moines Art Center, which showcases a rotating collection of contemporary and modern art. “It’s a small but mighty collection,” Green says. The center also manages the Pappajohn Sculpture Park Downtown.Waterbury High school students can earn college credit
As part of Des Moines Independent Community School District, also known as Des Moines Public Schools, Waterbury students can start at Hanawalt Elementary School, which receives a C-plus from Niche. Next, they can attend Merrill Middle School, which rates a C, before going to Roosevelt High School, which scores a B. At Roosevelt, students can participate in a dual enrollment program that earns them college credit with Des Moines Area Community College.Waterbury residents enjoy Des Moines events
The Des Moines Downtown Farmers’ Market is about a 5-mile drive and runs every Saturday from May to October. There, people can shop for fresh produce, meats, eggs and more from local farmers and growers. Waterbury is 9 miles from the fairgrounds, which hosts the annual Iowa State Fair, where residents can enjoy live music and amusement park rides.Waveland Trail is part of expansive biking system
Des Moines has an expansive system of bike trails, including Waterbury’s Waveland Trail, that spans nearly 70 miles throughout the city. Besides recreation, many people use the trails as part of their commute. Every May during Bike Month, the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority (DART) offers free bus rides to passengers with bikes. There are public bus stops on 59th Street and Grand Avenue. Locals can also travel to Downtown Des Moines by taking Interstate 235, about 5 miles. Des Moines International Airport is 9 miles away and offers direct flights to nearly 30 U.S. destinations and connections to international ones.Local restaurants and access to big-box retail
Residents can grab dinner at Viva Mexican Restaurant at the edge of Grand Avenue or explore the many eateries in Downtown Des Moines. Green recommends the Motley School Tavern, or MST, as she and other locals call it, for brunch or happy hour. It's about 3 miles northeast. Clyde’s Fine Diner is another popular option, and the chef is a semifinalist for the James Beard Foundation’s Best Chef in the Midwest Award. The restaurant is about 5 miles east of the neighborhood. People travel about 1 mile to Fareway for groceries and can purchase other essentials at Walmart, about 2 miles away, and Home Depot, which is within a 4-mile drive.Waterbury residents can help maintain local watershed
As part of Walnut Creek Watershed, the city encourages residents to reduce stormwater runoff and water pollution. Some steps they can take are rerouting roof drains, using phosphorus-free fertilizer and cleaning up after pets. According to its website, the City of Des Moines offers 50% rebates, up to $2,000, for larger management projects, including planting native landscaping, rain gardens and installing rain barrels.
Written By
William Palicia
Photography Contributed By
Dylan Stowell
Video By
Jason Jacot
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Agents Specializing in this Area
-
Jason Rude
Jason Rude
RE/MAX Precision
(515) 400-4122
376 Total Sales
1 in Waterbury
$392,400 Price
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David Welch
David Welch
RE/MAX Precision
(515) 519-9867
266 Total Sales
1 in Waterbury
$437,000 Price
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Kris Mehmen
Kris Mehmen
RE/MAX Precision
(515) 400-4689
83 Total Sales
1 in Waterbury
$414,000 Price
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Cody Greenfield
Cody Greenfield
RE/MAX Real Estate Center
(515) 686-6406
133 Total Sales
1 in Waterbury
$295,000 Price
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Joanne May
Joanne May
RE/MAX Revolution
(515) 461-6816
218 Total Sales
1 in Waterbury
$263,900 Price
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Andrew Bruellman
Andrew Bruellman
RE/MAX Concepts
(515) 575-2183
241 Total Sales
2 in Waterbury
$100K - $130K Price Range
Schools
Source:
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
- 9th to 12th
- Public
- 6th to 8th
- Public
- K to 5th
- Public
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to , an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Greenwood - Ashworth Park
- Bike Trails
- Grills
- Lake
McCollum-Waveland Tennis Complex
- Picnic Area
- Tennis
- Pickleball
Windsor Heights Dog Park
- Dog Park
Colby Park
- Baseball/Softball
- Tennis
- Trails
American Legion Park
- Baseball/Softball
- Basketball
- Grills
Lions Park
- Picnic Area
- Trails
Transit
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Waterbury | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 1 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 2 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 1 | 4 |
| Robbery | 2 | 4 |
| Burglary | 3 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 2 | 4 |
| Larceny | 3 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 2 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Waterbury Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Waterbury, Des Moines sell after 56 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Waterbury, Des Moines over the last 12 months is $438,500, up 25% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$525,000
Median Sale Price
$438,500
Median Single Family Sale Price
$425,000
Median 2 Bedroom Sale Price
$143,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
1%
Last 12 months Home Sales
48
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
25%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$265
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
939
Number of Homes for Sale
13
Median Year Built
1936
Months of Supply
3.30
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
2,079
Above the national average
1,933
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,700
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
900
Average Studio Size Sq Ft
625
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
12,196
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
-
$1,400 per month
- Condo for Rent
- 2 Beds
- 1 Bath
- 1,200 Sq Ft
- 5214 Ingersoll Ave
- Unit TreeTop
- Des Moines, IA
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to , an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
2,384
Median Age
44
Population Density
5 ppl/acre
Population under 18
23.8%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
20.3%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$155,975
Significantly above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$174,338
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
99.2%
College Graduates
76.9%
Significantly above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
38.3%
Above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
77%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
36''
Average Winter Low Temperature
14°F
Average Summer High Temperature
85°F
Annual Snowfall
45''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
27
/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
29
/ 100
Minimal Transit
Transit Score®
20
/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Nearby Neighborhoods
Ingersoll Park
Quiet streets and lively neighborhood block parties near Downtown Des Moines.
Waveland Woods
A secluded piece of suburbia 5 miles west of downtown Des Moines
Westwood
Premier historic homes in a bucolic environment
Greenwood
Des Moines' original Billionaires' Row neighborhood with historic mansions
Linden Heights
Secluded Des Moines neighborhood on the National Register of Historic Places
North of Grand
A historic neighborhood less than 3 miles from downtown Des Moines
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