Despite its name, Urbandale is actually quite suburban, favoring peaceful residential streets over busy city sidewalks. Local parks and annual events add to the area’s feeling of being a small community. Located at the intersection of two major interstates, Urbandale is in a prime location, just around 15 miles from Downtown Des Moines. You can find a range of housing here, from large homes in newly developed subdivisions to established neighborhoods with older houses.
Urbandale residents take pride in their homes and their community.
Urbandale is home to all manner of corporate job opportunities.
Urbandale is home to many top tier employers, and is full of great job opportunities.
Urbandale takes great pride in its historical roots and its long record of service.
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Styles from cozy bungalows to spacious properties
Deb Miller is a Realtor with Iowa Realty who lives in Urbandale. She says, “If you’re looking to move up from your two-bedroom, one-bath bungalow to a bigger home that you can entertain or raise a family in, there are a lot of homes like that in the area.” Ranch and split-level houses are common in the neighborhood, as well as new three-bedroom townhouse communities. Some contemporary, colonial and ranch-style properties are custom-built.
"The older, more established section on the east side is made up of homes from the 50s and 60s," says Derek Zarn, Urbandale's director of marketing and communications for the City of Urbandale. "Streets are lined with tall, lush trees and houses have smaller lots." Newer developments tend to be more open with wide, walkable streets.
Many Urbandale residents have turned their backyards into private getaways.
Larger modern homes can be found in the western sprawl of Urbandale.
On Urbandale's west side, developments of impressive new Traditional homes are springing up.
Urbandale's original core largely consists of midcentury ranch and bilevel homes.
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Housing prices in Urbandale
“I feel like Urbandale has houses in every price range,” Miller says. “Some of the older areas have really affordable first-time homebuyer-type of smaller homes, then [prices go] all the way up to multi-million dollar homes that are maybe newer construction in newer neighborhoods.” The median single-family sale price in Urbandale is in the high $300,000s, while the median townhouse sale price is in the high $200,000s. The neighborhood’s price is comparable to nearby Grimes, but prices are higher in Johnston and Clive, where the median single-family price is in the mid $400,000.
Multiple school districts serving the area
The City of Urbandale is divided into multiple school districts, including:
Urbandale Community School District
Des Moines School District
Dallas Center–Grimes Community School District
Waukee School District
Johnston School District and West Des Moines School District
Iowa’s Open Enrollment program offers flexibility in choosing the district that is right for them. Preschoolers through eighth graders can attend St. Pius X Catholic School, while Des Moines Christian School goes up to 12th grade. Dowling Catholic High School is in West Des Moines. Urbandale is also close to colleges in the Des Moines area, such as Drake University and Des Moines University.
Walnut Hills Elementary School is located off 156th Street.
Olmstead Elementary School is one of several elementary schools serving Urbandale.
Welcome to Urbandale Middle School.
Urbandale High School is known for its excellent academics, clubs, and athletics.
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Transportation and commuting on the “Urban Loop”
Urbandale is located at the intersection of Interstates 35 and 80, within what locals call the "Urban Loop," which leads to Downtown Des Moines. “We have easy access to really all parts of the metro area,” Miller says. Most Des Moinesians choose to get around by car because the city has so little traffic. Those wanting to use public transit will find Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority bus stops along Douglas Avenue and Meredith Drive. Biking is another way to navigate the city. “You can hop on a bike trail in Urbandale, and you can go downtown or [to the] lake,” Miller says.
Local amenities and things to do
“Urbandale is known to have a lot of green space, a lot of really nice parks and a lot of bike trails,” Miller says. You can stroll among public art along the nature trails at Charles Gabus Memorial Tree Park and Gardens or check out the adrenaline-inducing skateboarding section at Walker Johnston Park, which hosts Urbandale's youth sports leagues and adult pickleball tournaments throughout the year. Visitors can learn about the past 300 years of Iowa’s agricultural history at Living History Farms, a 500-acre interactive outdoor museum.
The city becomes a winter wonderland during the holidays, with glowing trees, gingerbread houses and an ice-skating rink at Charles Gabus Memorial Tree Park. Miracle on 86th Street is the biggest winter holiday celebration in the city and the site for several seasonal events throughout the year. In the spring, bikers hop onto Urbandale’s trail system with the Urbandale mayor during the Mayor’s Bike Ride. “They have a widely known Fourth of July festival in the neighborhood,” Miller says. “It’s pretty popular.”
The expanse of Walker Johnston Park is a central gathering spot for Urbandale residents.
The gardens of Charles Gabus Memorial Tree Park & Garden offer a green side of Urbandale.
Many miles of trails meander through the beautiful neighborhoods of Urbandale.
Urbandale boasts an impressive modern skate park at Walker Johnston park.
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The Urbandale Job Market
Miller says insurance companies are a major employer in the area. Marsh & McLennan Companies is the largest employer in the city, employing around 1,000 people. Urbandale Community School District is the second largest employer in Urbandale. "What was once a small community has grown into a large suburb," says Cary Claiborne, Broker Associate with Iowa Realty Ankeny and a Des Moines area resident since 1978. "In fact, the whole Iowa Metro area is poised for great growth."
Written By
Joyelle Ronan
Photography Contributed By
Drew Davis
Video By
Tyler Hall
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Jen Schuller,
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.
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On average, homes in Urbandale, IA sell after 66 days on the market compared to the national average of 58 days. The median sale price for homes in Urbandale, IA over the last 12 months is $348,500, consistent with the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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