Best places to live in the Des Moines metro area
Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live in the Des Moines metro area using data from the Niche. Niche uses 15 weighted factors for its rankings. A majority of the score is based on cost of living, higher education rate, housing, public schools, diversity, and crime. You can read more about Niche's methodology here.
#25. Webster Township
- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A-
- Population: 61,593
#24. Jefferson Township
- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 14,291
#23. Douglas Township
- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 11,242
#22. Walnut Township
- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 38,145
#21. Crocker Township
- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 67,766
#20. Walnut Township
- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A-
- Population: 69,431
#19. Boone Township
- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 33,284
#18. Saylorville
- Niche grade: B-
- Public school grade: B
- Population: 3,559
#17. Pleasant Hill
- Niche grade: B
- Public school grade: B
- Population: 10,796
#16. Altoona
- Niche grade: B+
- Public school grade: B+
- Population: 20,592
#15. Carlisle
- Niche grade: B+
- Public school grade: B-
- Population: 4,187
#14. Des Moines
- Niche grade: B+
- Public school grade: C
- Population: 212,464
#13. Indianola
- Niche grade: B+
- Public school grade: B
- Population: 15,918
#12. Norwalk
- Niche grade: A-
- Public school grade: B+
- Population: 13,610
#11. Windsor Heights
- Niche grade: A-
- Public school grade: B+
- Population: 5,171
#10. Adel
- Niche grade: A-
- Public school grade: B
- Population: 6,259
#9. Grimes
- Niche grade: A-
- Public school grade: A-
- Population: 15,810
#8. Bondurant
- Niche grade: A-
- Public school grade: B-
- Population: 8,061
#7. Polk City
- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 5,833
#6. Johnston
- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 24,196
#5. Urbandale
- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A-
- Population: 46,026
#4. Waukee
- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 26,974
#3. Ankeny
- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 70,542
#2. West Des Moines
- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A-
- Population: 69,893
#1. Clive
- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 18,776