The Ankeny Brief
If you're eyeing a move to Ankeny, you've probably already seen it top a "best places to live" list. That's real - but you want the honest version from people who actually live here, trade-offs and all. Here's the straight answer: the rankings, the safety and schools, what it costs, and who Ankeny is (and isn't) for.
Yes - especially for families. Ankeny was named #1 best place to live in Iowa and top-20 in the U.S. by U.S. News for 2025-26, with strong schools, low crime, 50+ parks and 100+ miles of trails, and a ~15-min commute to Des Moines. The trade-offs: it's growing fast (traffic, constant construction) and suburban and car-dependent - not a walkable big-city vibe.
Ankeny landed on U.S. News & World Report's 2025-2026 list as the #1 place to live in Iowa, #18 in the nation (out of 250 cities), and among the top small cities. It carries an A grade on Niche and is regularly named a top place to raise a family in the state. Take rankings with a grain of salt - but Ankeny shows up on them year after year, which tells you something.
Ankeny is a suburb of Des Moines - close enough for a metro job and big-city amenities, far enough to feel like its own town. The young median age is the tell: this is a family town, full of new neighborhoods, ballfields and splash pads.
Ankeny is considered a safe community - low crime for its size, active neighborhood associations, and community policing are a big reason it ranks so well nationally. That said, every town has crime; if you're weighing a specific area, look up current data. See crime maps & public records for how to check.
The Ankeny Community School District is a major draw - highly rated, fast-growing, with two large high schools (Ankeny and Centennial). School quality is one of the top reasons families move here. Details on the district, boundaries and open enrollment are in our schools guide.
The Des Moines metro sits around (or a touch below) the national cost-of-living average - a big part of the appeal. Housing is the main line item: Ankeny's median home price runs in the low-to-mid $300,000s, higher than the county overall because so much of it is newer construction. The current number is on our housing dashboard, and property taxes have their own guide.
You have (or want) kids, you're a first-time buyer after a newer home, or you value safety, schools, parks and a short commute over big-city buzz.
You want a walkable, urban, nightlife-heavy feel or a historic established neighborhood. Ankeny is suburban and car-dependent, and the fast growth means real traffic and near-constant construction. (Uptown Ankeny is the closest thing to a walkable core.)
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Yes - it's regarded as a safe, low-crime community, which is part of why it ranks so well. Still, check current data for any specific area via our crime & records guide.
Very - strong schools, tons of parks and splash pads, and it's regularly ranked a top place to raise a family in Iowa. See things to do with kids.
Growth. Ankeny is the fastest-growing city in Iowa, so expect traffic, construction and a suburban, car-first layout.
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