How Indianola blends arts, nature and small‑town living
South of Des Moines, Indianola is a suburb that feels like a small town with a historic college, a town square with local businesses and several parks. While some people choose to live here because it's close enough to commute to Downtown Des Moines, Indianola has its own personality. The city supports the arts, as it’s home to the Des Moines Metro Opera and its American summer opera festival. Other things to do include walking and biking trails, and an annual hot-air balloon festival.
The downtown square a is centered around a brand-new courthouse and justice center.
Indianola is proud to be the home of Simpson College and all of it's students and staff.
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What buyers can expect to pay for homes in Indianola
Older homes are near downtown, and there are newer homes built from the 1970s to the mid-2020s available. "So basically, there is something in the way of housing for everyone," says Barb McMurry , managing broker of Iowa Realty, who sells in the area. New construction and traditional brick homes are on the southwest side of town, while more established ranch-style and split-level homes are in the center of town. Indianola has a median single-family home sale price in the low $300,000s, which is higher than Des Moines’ median in the low $200,000s. Some townhouse options range from the low $70,000s to the mid-$400,000s.
Ranch-style homes line the cozy streets.
Newer homes are often matched with larger yards to match the homes.
New housing developments feature sleek Modern houses in a variety of styles.
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Why many residents appreciate Indianola’s small‑town charm
“People are drawn to Indianola who want the close proximity to the Des Moines metro, but prefer the small town charm of this quieter community,” McMurry says. “[It’s] a welcoming community with a good school system, picture-perfect town square, an abundance of city parks, a bike trail that connects to Carlisle and the historic Simpson College.” The town square has a lot of local shops, restaurants and businesses. “I’ve lived in Indianola for over 30 years now. It’s a great community. A great place to live and grow up,” says Terry Pauling, broker and owner of iTOWN Real Estate on West Salem Avenue.
What families should know about schools and programs in Indianola
Indianola Community School District has four elementary schools, a middle school and a high school. “The community high school athletic, musical and theatrical events are community supported,” McMurry says. Indianola High School students can take college courses through Des Moines Area Community College while still earning their high school diploma. Iowa law allows families to enroll their children in other school districts within the state if there is space available. Simpson College is a private, four-year Methodist college. It was established in 1860 and currently enrolls around 1,200 students.
Indianola High School's football field has plenty of space to fit all the football fans.
Indianola Middle School has recently gone through many renovations to improve the facilities.
Indianola High School has a wide open campus to allow all students to thrive.
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Parks, pools and yearly events create a lively community
The city has several parks with a variety of amenities, including:
Memorial Park and Amphitheater has playgrounds, a live performance amphitheater and a skatepark.
Buxton Park is well-known for its arboretum, public art and ornamental fountain.
Pickard Park is the one of the city’s largest park with baseball and softball fields hosting weekend tournaments throughout the summer.
Swimmers can head to the Indianola Veterans Memorial Aquatic Center, which has a waterslide and splash pool, and golfers have a public and a private course to choose from.
One of the biggest attractions in Indianola is The National Balloon Classic. “It’s a spectator event. Weather permitting, spectators can watch the hot-air balloons launch or come into the field from out in the country,” Pauling says. “We get people from all over, and I’ve seen cars from nearly every state during the Classic. There’s probably, on average, between 8,000 and 12,000 people daily.” Other Indianola events include the Home for the Holidays Lighted Parade and the county fair.
Buxton Park has many different pathways for residents to stroll on.
Memorial Park has a waterpark making it very popular among families.
McCord Park features two playgrounds to fit many families.
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Travel times and main routes for reaching Des Moines
“We’re basically 10-15 miles south of the Des Moines metro area, and I think about 60% of folks here commute into Des Moines,” Pauling says. The drive to Downtown Des Moines is about 20 miles. “It takes less time to drive up from Indianola than it takes to travel from West Des Moines into downtown,” Pauling says. “We’re also 20 min to the airport, 30 minutes to large employers in West Des Moines, and 25 minutes to downtown.” Most commuters take U.S. Highway 69 to reach major destinations, including the Des Moines International Airport.
Written By
Joyelle Ronan
Photography Contributed By
Drew Davis
Video By
Robert Edmonds
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Liz Lashier,
an experienced agent in this area.
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On average, homes in Indianola, IA sell after 67 days on the market compared to the national average of 58 days. The median sale price for homes in Indianola, IA over the last 12 months is $308,475, up 9% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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