$424,928Average Value$252Average Price per Sq Ft53Homes For Sale
Life outside of Des Moines Metro in Granger
Granger is a rural small town about 22 miles outside of Des Moines. “It’s a bedroom community experiencing the urban sprawl that’s happening throughout the area,” says Granger City Administrator Kirk Bjorland. The atmosphere is ideal for homebuyers seeking a quiet neighborhood and home base, as residents commute for most amenities and job opportunities. As requests for economic development increase, city officials have begun to implement plans to build a new junior high school that could potentially expand to other grade levels, a local Fareway Meat and Grocery store and a regional trail. “We have fun things coming,” Bjorland says. “We’ve seen growth already and are continuously planning and embracing change.” While Granger is a predominantly residential area, locals can enjoy relative proximity to the Des Moines metropolitan area, commonly known as the Metro, as it sits 7 miles away from Grimes. With Iowa Highway 141 and US Route 71 intersecting in town, residents can take advantage of the many Metro opportunities close by while experiencing the privacy and seclusion of a neighborhood plopped in the middle of open land.
New, modern developments in Granger
Housing around the major highways has seen major growth in the last few years. Homes with modern ranch- and traditional-style architecture continue to populate the area, especially north of State and 190th Streets. These properties typically feature driveways and garages with asphalt shingled roofs and vinyl or stone siding. These newer homes tend to sell in the $300,000 to $400,000 range, while 20th century ranch-style homes fall around $200,000. Developing residential communities have newly paved sidewalks lining large, green front lawns, making these areas more walkable than other parts of Granger.
Modern Traditional-style House in one of Granger's Fast Growing Developments
Brand-new construction homes in Granger feature stone and brick accents.
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The Woodard-Granger Hawks
Primary students can attend Woodard-Granger Elementary School, which rates an A-minus on Niche and sits within a mile of most residential streets. Students must travel about 10 miles to Woodard-Granger Middle, which also scores an A-minus and Woodard-Granger High, which earns a B-plus. Ninety percent of high school students participate in extracurricular activities and athletic programs, giving kids access to comprehensive and holistic learning. The city also plans to build a new middle school, and potentially a high school, to eliminate the obligation to commute. However, quick access to Iowa Highway 141 allows students to travel the 10-mile distance in less than 15 minutes.
Woodward-Granger Elementary School
The shared campus of Woodward-Granger Middle & High Schools is just up the road in Woodward.
Woodward-Granger High School is known for it's academic and athletic excellence.
Hawk Stadium is home to the Woodward-Granger Hawks.
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Numerous outdoor activities in and around Granger
Granger Park features a playground and lawn space where locals often play frisbee, exercise their dogs or host picnics. Right next door, the Centennial Ball Diamond is available for baseball and softball practice, as well as competitions hosted by local leagues. On the north side of town, the Granger Public Library and Community Center offers additional space for various activities, such as after school programs, yoga classes and senior social events. Residents often take advantage of the 4-mile proximity to Jester Park, which offers 1,600 acres for hiking, camping, fishing, golfing, horseback riding and lake access.
Centennial Ball Diamond at Granger Park
The playground at Granger Park will keep children entertained for hours.
Jester Park is just a few miles from Granger and offers many recreational opportunities.
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Shopping and dining in Granger and Grimes
While there are no grocery stores and minimal restaurants in the neighborhood, residents can drive 7 miles away to the neighboring city of Grimes. Fareway Grocery and Hy-Vee Grocery are available for essentials along with a Walmart Supercenter. For dining in Granger, Mojitos Mexican Restaurant serves authentic Mexican food and margaritas, and Casey’s offers takeout pizza, sandwiches and baked goods. The city is working to build a Fareway in Granger as demand for economic growth increases.
Nearby HyVee in Grimes is the largest in the state and has a huge produce section.
Walmart in Grimes offers a grocery store as well as the typical department store.
Casey's is Granger's only gas station, providing hot and ready pizza and other prepared foods.
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Major highways intersect in Granger
Commuting is an integral part of living in Granger. Proximity to Iowa Highway 141 and US Route 71 allows residents to make quick drives to the Metro, but public transportation is not available in the neighborhood. Des Moines International Airport is about 24 miles southeast, and the closest Greyhound station is about 19 miles away. For health and dental care, residents often drive to Grimes.
Granger is a small town with proximity and accessibility to big city amenities.
One new neighborhood on the north side of Granger is centered around a man-made pond.
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Written By
Grace Pitney
Video By
Adam Lapallo
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Jill Budden,
an experienced agent in this area.
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
On average, homes in Granger, IA sell after 69 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Granger, IA over the last 12 months is $350,500, down 4% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Time to get away from the city, but not too far? 10 mins from 2 Golf courses, Saylorville Lake, or the High Trestle Bridge and still just 10 min from I235. Enjoy acres of common ground with a stocked pond and no neighbors behind you. Luxury Bi-Attached Townhome lots. Plans for the lots have already been determined. Ranging from 1750-1950 Sq ft of finish on the main.
Time to get away from the city, but not too far? 10 mins from 2 Golf courses, Saylorville Lake, or the High Trestle Bridge and still just 10 min from I235. Enjoy acres of common ground with a stocked pond and no neighbors behind you. Luxury Bi-Attached Townhome lots. Plans for the lots have already been determined. Ranging from 1750-1950 Sq ft of finish on the main.
Time to get away from the city, but not too far? 10 mins from 2 Golf courses, Saylorville Lake, or the High Trestle Bridge and still just 10 min from I235. Enjoy acres of common ground with a stocked pond and no neighbors behind you. Luxury Bi-Attached Townhome lots. Plans for the lots have already been determined. Ranging from 1750-1950 Sq ft of finish on the main.
Tucked into the western banks of Saylorville Lake, Andrews is a peaceful, rural community only 20 minutes north of Des Moines. Tree-lined streets, some with sidewalks, wind throughout the community highlighting rolling hills, timber forests and vast, crystal-clear waterways. Most houses have expansive lawns with plenty of space between neighbors and are barely visible from the street, set atop long driveways and hidden behind tall white oak and river birch trees. Because the area is spread out, it is not very walkable. "[Andrews] is small-town nice," says Sarah Pesek, a 16-year Realtor with Berkshire-Hathaway Home Services who has sold 17 homes in the area. "It's for people who want a small-town feel close to recreation and city amenities."
Homes in Andrews are built near the lake, but not on the lake, Pesek says. "That's because it's a U.S. Army Corp of Engineers lake," she says. However, the lake has boating areas, so people can enjoy the water. Homes in Andrews offer a mix of residential styles, from Colonial revival to ranch-style. In the wide-open farmland further from the lake, new subdivisions are popping up, featuring the traditional-style architecture. "This area is growing rapidly, and there are opportunities to get in," Pesek says. Lots are at least an acre, large enough for a pool, and homes have garages, some with three or four doors. Houses typically sell anywhere between $321,000 and $972,000.
Andrews is a destination for outdoor enthusiasts, and Jester Park invites visitors to explore 1,661 acres of ecologically and recreationally diverse landscape. This expansive green space offers boating on Saylorville Lake, fishing on the inland ponds, horseback riding along backcountry trails, camping in the park's permanent backcountry cabins or hitting the fairways on the park's 18-hole golf course. At the Natural Playscape near the elk and bison preserve, kids can climb trees, roll down hills and scramble up rocks or learn about the native flora and fauna at the Jester Park Nature Center. "The center is our gateway to the outdoors," says Misty Smith, Nature Center coordinator. "Visitors start at the overlook, where they get a view of the park. There is so much to do that you can spend the day here."
Andrew's residents must drive to Polk City or Grimes to accommodate their everyday shopping and dining needs. There's a Casey's convenience store in both areas, offering quick access to food, gas, and other amenities. Grimes is 7 miles east on Iowa Highway 141 and provides a wide selection of amenities, including Hy-Vee, Menards and Walmart Supercenter. Destination Grille is a local favorite, offering American cuisine and comfortable rooftop seating. For a frozen treat or dessert, Heavenly Delights Ice Cream Shop serves 40 flavors of ice cream and 19 flavors of soft-serve.
Andrews is zoned for the Woodward Granger Community and the Johnston Community school districts, both of which offer open enrollment. Students can start their education at Woodward-Granger Elementary School and move on to Woodward-Granger Middle School. Both have A-minus grades from Niche. Johnston High School offers Advanced Placement classes and has an A-minus Niche grade.
UnityPoint Health - Methodist West Hospital and MercyOne West Des Moines Medical Center are the nearest hospitals. Most residents rely on their vehicles, as there is no local public transportation. Downtown Des Moines is a 22-mile drive via Iowa Highway 141 East/ Interstate 235 East, and Des Moines International Airport east of Andrews on IA-141 E.
Property Mix - Square Feet
Granger Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
2,030
Median Age
40
Population under 18
27.5%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
16.2%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$109,752
Significantly above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$124,041
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
95.9%
College Graduates
45.3%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
10.6%
% Population in Labor Force
80.9%
Above the national average
65.1%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
36''
Average Winter Low Temperature
11°F
Average Summer High Temperature
86°F
Annual Snowfall
30''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®®
35/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®®
30/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Walk Score® measures the walkability of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address. CAP Index provides objective, accurate, and consistent data to help measure, compare, and mitigate crime risks.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
