The Ankeny Brief
Considering a move to Ankeny? You're in good company - it's one of the fastest-growing cities in Iowa, and people keep coming for the schools, the safety, the new-build housing, and a 15-minute drive to downtown Des Moines. Here's the straight story on what to expect, from someone who actually lives here.
Just moved in, or boxes still in the truck? Here is the first-week checklist in one place, so you are not hunting through the city website at 9pm. All free. Then let the weekly Brief keep you current once you have unpacked.
Ankeny's 2024 Special Census officially confirmed 76,207 residents - more than 8,000 added since the 2020 Census, making it the 5th-largest city in Iowa. It sits about 12 miles north of downtown Des Moines on I-35, so you get a real small-city feel with the whole metro (jobs, the airport, big events) a short drive away.
Homes in Ankeny sell for a 2026 year-to-date median of about $323,500, and it's a new-construction town, so a big share of sales are brand-new homes, with builders most active on the north and east sides. Recent 2026 figures from county records:
We track these monthly on the Ankeny housing dashboard. Figures are point-in-time and move with the market.
Families move to Ankeny largely for the schools: the Ankeny Community School District is one of the largest and fastest-growing in Iowa, with two big comprehensive high schools - Ankeny High and Ankeny Centennial - plus a steady pipeline of new elementary and middle schools as the town grows. Ankeny is also home to the main campus of DMACC (Des Moines Area Community College), one of the state's largest two-year colleges, with trades, transfer, and career programs right in town.
The Ankeny Brief is a free weekly email: what's happening, new places to eat, what's being built, and things to do this week. The fastest way to get your bearings in a new town.
Day to day, Ankeny punches above its size. You're ten minutes from a 26,000-acre lake and on one of the best paved-trail networks in the country (the High Trestle Trail bridge is a genuine bucket-list ride). Uptown and The District at Prairie Trail give you walkable breweries, restaurants, and a summer events calendar - Beats & Eats, the Saturday farmers market, SummerFest. Start here:
For a lot of people, yes - it's Iowa's 5th-largest city and one of the fastest-growing, with strong schools, low crime, lots of new-build housing, and about a 15-minute drive to downtown Des Moines. It trades big-city nightlife for space, safety, and trails.
The 2026 year-to-date median sale price is about $323,500. By quadrant it ranges from roughly $280,000 on the value-oriented SE side to about $345,000 in the pricier NW; new construction is around 21% of sales. We track it monthly on the housing dashboard.
About 12 miles - roughly a 15-minute drive straight down I-35 to downtown Des Moines. See our full Ankeny to Des Moines commute guide for drive times and routes.
Water and sewer through the city, electric and gas through MidAmerican, a private trash hauler, and internet - our utilities setup guide has the numbers. Then find your zoned school by address and get familiar with property taxes.
Ankeny is served by the Ankeny Community School District, one of the largest and fastest-growing districts in Iowa. It runs two comprehensive high schools, Ankeny High and Ankeny Centennial, plus a growing set of new elementary and middle schools. Find your zoned building with our Ankeny schools guide.
Housing is the biggest piece: Ankeny's 2026 year-to-date median sale price is about $323,500. Property taxes run through Polk County and utilities come from the city and MidAmerican; our cost of living guide covers the full picture.
Ankeny is one of the fastest-growing cities in Iowa. Its 2024 Special Census confirmed 76,207 residents, more than 8,000 added since 2020 (about 12% growth in four years), making it the 5th-largest city in the state.