Waveland Woods
Beautifully restored historic homes
The streets of Waveland Park wind across gentle hills, cooled by the shade of steady thickets of mature trees that reach across sidewalks and driveways. Well-maintained historic and mid-century homes top carefully manicured lawns. “The real appeal is the bedroom community feel and atmosphere,” Peterson says. The most common styles include Tudor Revival, Prairie, Cape Cod and ranch-style, with skillful restorations hiding the fact that many of these buildings are over a century old. Despite this picturesque aesthetic, home prices trend lower than average for Des Moines, starting in the high $100,000s for smaller houses and reaching into the high $300,000s for larger classic homes. Sprawling estates and impeccably restored historic homes occasionally become available, generally falling between the high $600,000s and high $800,000s.
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Specialty courses at Central Academy
Students can begin their education at Windsor Elementary School, which scores a C-plus with Niche, before heading to Merrill Middle School, which has a C. Older students can enroll at Roosevelt High School, where they’ll have the opportunity to try out highly specialized coursework in subjects including Japanese, aeronautics and marine biology through the Central Academy. “We send more students to Central Academy than anyone else,” says Donna Adcock, executive secretary to Roosevelt High for almost 30 years. “It gives these kids opportunities they’re not going to get anywhere else.”
Easy access to downtown and the airport
Interstate 235 creates the neighborhood’s southern border and provides a 5-mile route into downtown Des Moines. The Des Moines International Airport is 9 miles southeast via Iowa Highway 28. Those who prefer public transit can use the Des Moines Area Region Transit Authority (DART) for reliable bus transportation throughout the city.The oldest golf course west of the Mississippi
Waveland Golf Course is an 18-hole golf course in neighboring Waveland Park. Built in 1901, this public course can boast to being the oldest municipal golf course west of the Mississippi. Located on steep hills and flush with copses of trees, Waveland has gained a reputation as a more challenging course, though that hasn’t stopped over 40,000 rounds from being played there annually. The McCollum-Waveland Tennis Complex features a dozen full-sized courts, ideal for tennis or pickleball games.
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Live jazz and steak at Simon's
Located in neighboring Merle Hay, Simon’s offers a classic steakhouse atmosphere with specialty cuts of meat alongside pasta, seafood and an extensive wine list. Live jazz is performed on Wednesday and Friday evenings, but be prepared to wait on busier evenings as they don’t accept reservations for parties smaller than six. Fast food like Burger King and Wendy’s can be found in surrounding neighborhoods, and the Walmart Supercenter is 1.5 miles west in Windsor Heights.
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Follow the Peppermint Trail
Held yearly at the Avenues since 2004, Ingersoll Live is a block party that includes live music, dancing, local food and many family-friendly activities. During the winter holidays, the same venue becomes home to the Peppermint Trail, which takes locals on a festive journey through the city with festive entertainment and treats every step of the way.
Written By
Phil Keeling
Photography Contributed By
Dylan Stowell
Video By
Matt Pangman
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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Jason Rude
Jason Rude
RE/MAX Precision
(515) 400-4122
373 Total Sales
2 in Waveland Woods
$179K - $232K Price Range
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Jill Budden
Jill Budden
RE/MAX Concepts
(515) 461-8462
299 Total Sales
1 in Waveland Woods
$410,000 Price
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Ingrid Williams
Ingrid Williams
Responds QuicklyRE/MAX Concepts
(515) 461-8070
1,273 Total Sales
3 in Waveland Woods
$145K - $282K Price Range
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Julie Moore
Julie Moore
Responds QuicklyRE/MAX Concepts
(515) 361-3272
233 Total Sales
1 in Waveland Woods
$281,500 Price
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Bethany Cochran
Bethany Cochran
Responds QuicklyAgency Iowa
(515) 400-3018
351 Total Sales
4 in Waveland Woods
$145K - $350K Price Range
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Sean Manning
Sean Manning
Responds QuicklySimply Better Realty, LLC
(515) 461-6406
102 Total Sales
1 in Waveland Woods
$770,000 Price
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
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Parks in this Area
McCollum-Waveland Tennis Complex
- Picnic Area
- Tennis
- Pickleball
Windsor Heights Dog Park
- Dog Park
Colby Park
- Baseball/Softball
- Tennis
- Trails
Tower Park
- Basketball
- Grills
- Picnic Area
Franklin Park
- Picnic Area
- Multi-Purpose Field
Lions Park
- Picnic Area
- Trails
Transit
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Waveland Woods | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 2 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 2 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 2 | 4 |
| Robbery | 2 | 4 |
| Burglary | 3 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 3 | 4 |
| Larceny | 4 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 3 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Waveland Woods Demographics and Home Trends
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$425,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$410,000
Last 12 months Home Sales
0
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$163
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
367
Number of Homes for Sale
2
Median Year Built
1949
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,367
Significantly below the national average
1,924
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,344
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
9,365
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
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Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
849
Median Age
40
Population Density
6 ppl/acre
Population under 18
23.6%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
18.8%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$84,789
Above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$105,286
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
98.7%
Above the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
47%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
10.2%
% Population in Labor Force
67.3%
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®
24
/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
31
/ 100
Some Transit
Transit Score®
30
/ 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
Waterbury
Tudor Revivals in quaint Des Moines neighborhood
Waveland Park
Community runs deep and residents stay a while in a nature-filled neighborhood
Ingersoll Park
Quiet streets and lively neighborhood block parties near Downtown Des Moines.
Linden Heights
Secluded Des Moines neighborhood on the National Register of Historic Places
Merle Hay
Merle Hay Mall is in this neighborhood only a few miles from Downtown Des Moines
North of Grand
A historic neighborhood less than 3 miles from downtown Des Moines
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