Best places to live in the Des Moines metro area

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July 8, 2025
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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.

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#25. Webster Township

- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A-
- Population: 61,593

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#24. Jefferson Township

- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 14,291

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#23. Douglas Township

- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 11,242

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#22. Walnut Township

- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 38,145

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#21. Crocker Township

- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 67,766

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#20. Walnut Township

- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A-
- Population: 69,431

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#19. Boone Township

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 33,284

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#18. Saylorville

- Niche grade: B-
- Public school grade: B
- Population: 3,559

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#17. Pleasant Hill

- Niche grade: B
- Public school grade: B
- Population: 10,796

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#16. Altoona

- Niche grade: B+
- Public school grade: B+
- Population: 20,592

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#15. Carlisle

- Niche grade: B+
- Public school grade: B-
- Population: 4,187

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#14. Des Moines

- Niche grade: B+
- Public school grade: C
- Population: 212,464

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#13. Indianola

- Niche grade: B+
- Public school grade: B
- Population: 15,918

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#12. Norwalk

- Niche grade: A-
- Public school grade: B+
- Population: 13,610

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#11. Windsor Heights

- Niche grade: A-
- Public school grade: B+
- Population: 5,171

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#10. Adel

- Niche grade: A-
- Public school grade: B
- Population: 6,259

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#9. Grimes

- Niche grade: A-
- Public school grade: A-
- Population: 15,810

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#8. Bondurant

- Niche grade: A-
- Public school grade: B-
- Population: 8,061

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#7. Polk City

- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 5,833

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#6. Johnston

- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 24,196

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#5. Urbandale

- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A-
- Population: 46,026

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#4. Waukee

- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 26,974

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#3. Ankeny

- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 70,542

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#2. West Des Moines

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A-
- Population: 69,893

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#1. Clive

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 18,776

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