Buying a Home in Urbandale
Established, central, and well-connected — mature neighborhoods at a range of prices.
Urbandale is a well-established northwest-metro suburb prized for its central location and mix of mature neighborhoods. It stretches along the I-35/80 corridor, making it one of the more commute-friendly spots in the metro.
Buyers often find more established homes here, with options across a broad price range — a good fit for those who want settled neighborhoods and easy access to the rest of the metro.
Highlights
- Living History Farms and a strong network of city parks
- Central location with quick highway access in every direction
- Mature, established neighborhoods alongside select newer pockets
- Walnut Creek and trail connections through the metro greenway
Urbandale by the numbers
Home value, rent & market activity: Zillow Research (2026-08). Income & demographics: U.S. Census ACS (5-year).
Browse current Urbandale listings on Zillow →
School choice: who is moving in, and out
Iowa lets parents enroll a child in a public district other than the one they live in (Iowa Code §282.18). The state publishes the counts, which shows something a school rating cannot: which districts families are actively choosing, and which they are leaving.
School district boundaries do not follow city limits. Figures below describe the district, not the city, and the two can differ a great deal: only about half the children living in the city of Urbandale attend Urbandale schools, while Waukee's district reaches well beyond Waukee. Check any specific address before relying on this.
Source: Iowa Department of Education, Certified Enrollment by District, 2025-26 school year. The bar shows transfers in and out as shares of all transfers, not the net. Percentages are of certified enrollment — every student living in the district, whichever school they attend. A net loss is not a verdict on a school — large districts lose more simply by being large, and families transfer for childcare, a parent's commute and sibling placement as well as for academics.
Schools
Largely served by the Urbandale Community School District, with portions in the Johnston and Des Moines districts depending on location — always confirm by address.
Getting around
Among the most central suburbs; direct I-35/80 access puts most of the metro within 15–20 minutes.
Metro context
Source: Realtor.com via FRED (metro); Zillow Research (value/rent); U.S. Census ACS (demographics) · Des Moines–West Des Moines, IA · updated 2026-08.
Estimate buy vs rent for Urbandale →
General guide only — verify school boundaries, taxes, and current prices for any specific address. Not real-estate or financial advice.