Des Moines metro communities
Where to live in the Des Moines metro. Town by town.
Each town in the metro has its own school districts, tax rates, commute and feel. These guides give you the real numbers, with sources, plus what I tell my own clients before they buy or sell there.
01 / Town guides
Start with the town.
Ankeny
Iowa’s fifth largest city, about 7 miles north of downtown on I-35. About 77,800 people, mostly Ankeny schools, and a $9.90 city tax rate.
Living in Ankeny →
Altoona
About five miles east of Des Moines on I-80. Southeast Polk schools, Adventureland and Prairie Meadows, and new-home tax abatement suspended in 2026.
Living in Altoona →
Pleasant Hill
East side, at US 65 and Iowa 163. Copper Creek Lake, the hub of the Gay Lea Wilson Trail, and two school districts depending on the address.
Living in Pleasant Hill →
Des Moines
The capital city and the widest range of homes in the metro, from 1920s Beaverdale brick to downtown lofts. Mostly Des Moines Public Schools.
Living in Des Moines →
More town guides are on the way, starting with Bondurant, Johnston, Polk City and Newton.
02 / How to choose
Four things I check in every town.
- The school district for the exact address. District lines do not follow city lines.
- The whole property tax bill. City rates in the metro run from under $10 to over $16 per $1,000, and the county, schools and other levies add more.
- Tax abatement on new construction. Several metro cities paused or ended it in 2026, which changes the math on new builds.
- The commute you will actually drive, at the time of day you will drive it.
Not sure which town fits?
Let’s talk it through.
Tell me what matters to you and I’ll show you where it lines up. Call or text 515-606-1227.