The Ankeny Brief
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 one of Iowa's fastest-growing cities (more than 8,000 new residents from 2020 to 2024, per the city), so expect traffic, construction and a suburban, car-first layout.
Moving to Ankeny · Schools · Housing market · About Ankeny (almanac) · Things to do
Ankeny is regarded as a safe community with low crime relative to its size, active neighborhood associations, and community policing, part of why it ranks so well on national best-places-to-live lists. To look up local crime data or file/request a report, see the Ankeny police and public-records resources; every community has crime, so check current data for the specific area you're considering.
Yes. Ankeny is a suburb on the north side of the Des Moines metro, in Polk County, about a 15-minute drive from downtown Des Moines via Interstate 35. It's one of Iowa's fastest-growing cities, with an official population of 76,207 in the 2024 Special Census (more than 8,000 residents added since 2020) and a median age of about 34.
Cost of living in the Des Moines metro is around or a bit below the national average, which is a big part of Ankeny's appeal. Housing is the main expense: Ankeny's median home price runs in the low-to-mid $300,000s, higher than the county overall because so much of the housing stock is newer construction. Check the current figure on the Brief's housing dashboard.
Ankeny is a great fit for families, first-time buyers wanting newer homes, and anyone who values safety, schools, parks and an easy commute. It's less ideal if you want a walkable big-city feel, nightlife, or an established historic neighborhood. Ankeny is suburban, car-oriented, and still building out.
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