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Windsor Heights

Windsor Heights

Located in Polk County

50325
$291,026 Average Value
$195 Average Price per Sq Ft
8 Homes For Sale

Windsor Heights has a central location with a community feel

Windsor Heights is a small city with a suburban feeling. Its central location attracts commuters working in the Des Moines Metro Area while keeping a lower median home price than some of the nearby suburbs. Parks, trails and annual events add to the city’s family-friendly atmosphere. Some homes are within walking distance of shopping and dining, including grocery stores, restaurants and local businesses.

How Windsor Heights home prices compare to nearby suburbs

Homes in Windsor Heights are along narrow winding roads and tree-lined streets. "I love the homes, they have beautiful homes,” says Jolene Lindell, a Realtor with Realty ONE Group Impact who sells in the area. “A lot of them were built between the 1950s to the ‘70s. They’re high-quality homes, with beautiful old plaster and coffered ceilings.” Tudor Revival and ranch-style homes made with original brickwork, and two-story Colonial Revival properties are popular in the area. “This community has brick ranch-style homes that are very unique to the neighborhood, and you won’t find them anywhere else,” says Jarod Snover, a local agent at Iowa Realty Mills Crossing servicing the greater Des Moines area. Properties average around 1,500 square feet, with a median lot size of a quarter of an acre.

Homes stay on the market for about 30 days, compared to the national average of about 50 days. Lindell notes that Windsor Heights is more affordable than some of the surround areas, like Waterbury. Prices range from the mid $100,000s to the high $500,000s.
Windsor Heights’ median price in the high $200,000s is:

  • Higher than Des Moines’ median in the low $200,000s.
  • Lower than West Des Moines’ median in the mid $300,000s.
  • Lower than Urbandale’s median in the high $300,000s.

Different pockets offer calm residential and lively shopping areas

“Windsor Heights is one of the first suburbs in the city that was developed in the 1950s; it was designed like a little micro city with shopping and entertainment on the south side, and houses on the north,” Snover says. “This is a very walkable neighborhood, and it’s dead center in the middle of everything in Des Moines.” There are a few subdivisions within Windsor Heights with distinct vibes. Some areas are quieter, like northern Windsor Heights, while other sections of the city are closer to shopping and dining, particularly in southern Windsor Heights.”

Families choose between two districts with added flexibility

The city is divided between Des Moines Public Schools and the highly rated West Des Moines Community School District. “Another big draw for the neighborhood is Cowles Montessori School; there are families that move to Windsor Heights in the hopes they might get bumped up on the waitlist,” Snover says. High school students in both districts can take dual enrollment courses through Des Moines Area Community College. State law allows families to attend school districts of their choice if space is available.

Walkability, public transit and short commutes define the area

Windsor Heights is one of the more walkable neighborhoods in the Des Moines Metro Area, with many shops, stores and restaurants within walking distance of homes. Residents can take DART (Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority) buses to get around Des Moines and its surrounding areas. Interstate 35 and Interstate 80 are close by for access to Minneapolis and Chicago, respectively. Many workers commute to Downtown Des Moines, West Des Moines or suburbs like Urbandale and Clive, all of which are within 7 miles.

Outdoor spaces and year round events bring neighbors together

Colby Park offers a playground, a baseball field and tennis courts built around the Windsor Heights Community Center. It also has a splash pad and a food truck plaza. The community dog park is across the street from Walnut Creek, and the quiet pocket park, Lions Park, is by the public library, which offers a picnic area.

The Des Moines Trail and the Clive Greenbelt Trail are two scenic pathways for exploring Windsor Heights and the Des Moines Metro Area. Waveland Golf Course is a public 18-hole course that was built in 1901. Windsor Heights Foundation (WHF) hosts “Nights in the Heights,” which is a weekly community social with live music and food trucks in the summer. There’s also the annual 4th of July celebration, the fall festival, movie nights and concert series.

Dogs and dog people enjoy the wide-open space of Windsor Heights Dog Park
Dogs and dog people enjoy the wide-open space of Windsor Heights Dog Park
Playground structures at Colby Park entertain families daily.
Playground structures at Colby Park entertain families daily.
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Joyelle Ronan
Written By
Joyelle Ronan
Drew Davis
Photography Contributed By
Drew Davis
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Victoria York

Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to Angela Glasgow, an experienced agent in this area.

Agents Specializing in this Area

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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

Parks in this Area

Windsor Heights Housing Trends

Housing Trends

Median List Price
$309,900
Median Sale Price
$300,392
Median Single Family Sale Price
$305,000
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$173,500
Median 2 Bedroom Sale Price
$163,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
2%
Last 12 months Home Sales
78
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
16%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$195

Area Facts

Number of Homes
1,864
Number of Homes for Sale
8
Median Year Built
1955
Months of Supply
1.20
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,512
Significantly below the national average
1,930
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,692
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
943
Average Studio Size Sq Ft
1,144
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
10,890

Homes for Sale

Homes for Rent

Distribution of Home Values

Source: Public Records

Average Home Value





Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

Windsor Heights Has More Owners

Demographics

Total Population
4,937
Median Age
41
Population under 18
24%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
21.8%
On par with the national average
19.1%

Finances

Median Household Income
$79,608
On par with the national average
$79,601
Average Household Income
$94,265

Education and Workforce

High School Graduates
96.4%
Above the national average
89%
College Graduates
42.1%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
9.4%
% Population in Labor Force
69.4%

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®®

46 / 100

Somewhat Walkable

Walk Score®®

60 / 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.
Windsor Heights