Source: Zillow market report email for Grimes 50111 (August 13, 2026). Figures are Zillow Home Value Index estimates for the report area, not MLS closed-sale medians - verify against CIBR/DMAAR MLS before quoting to a client. Accessed August 17, 2026. Last updated: August 17, 2026
Grimes is the Central Iowa growth story most outsiders haven't caught onto yet - and I think that's exactly what makes it worth a close look. Sitting in Dallas County between Johnston and Dallas Center, Grimes has tripled in population over the last 20 years and the trajectory continues - new subdivisions, new schools, new commercial activity. The combination of Dallas Center-Grimes school district, sub-20-minute commutes to West Des Moines + downtown, and meaningful new-construction inventory has made Grimes an active market. For the day-to-day side of a move, my complete guide to living in Grimes covers schools, new construction, and the commute. To see how Grimes compares with nearby cities on sale price, read my city by city home price update.
The Reserve at Brook Run + new subdivisions north of Hwy 141 - Newest construction, master-planned with HOAs, trails, parks. Larger lot options in some sections. Price range: $400K-$700K. Best for: buyers wanting the newest finishes + amenity-rich community.
Established Grimes (south of Hwy 141, near the historic downtown) - 1990s-2000s housing stock, mature trees, walkable to the original downtown core. Price range: $300K-$475K. Best for: buyers wanting an established neighborhood feel at lower entry prices. If renting out extra space to offset your payment interests you, my guide to house hacking in Grimes walks through the first-timer path.
North Grimes + Dallas Center border - Mix of newer construction + agricultural-edge properties. Larger lots, more space. Price range: $375K-$650K. Best for: buyers wanting space without leaving the metro.
East Grimes (toward Johnston border) - Newer subdivisions, easy commute to downtown Des Moines, often slightly more affordable than the Johnston side of the same neighborhoods. Price range: $350K-$525K.
Premium executive enclaves - Grimes has several pockets of higher-end inventory (custom homes, larger lots, golf-adjacent). Price range: $650K-$1.1M+.
I send a free Central Iowa market report monthly with the actual numbers. Get on the list at Jackson's Hub →
The Dallas Center-Grimes Community School District (DCG) serves Grimes and Dallas Center:
The DCG district is one of several west-metro districts, alongside Waukee and Johnston.
I'll be straightforward with you - Grimes is more of an owner-occupant market than an investor market. That said, there are pockets where the numbers work, and here's where I'd look:
Full house hacking playbook here →
Grimes rewards buyers who understand the school zoning, the new construction landscape, and the difference between the four major sub-markets - and that's the kind of detail I'm glad to walk you through. I work this market and the surrounding west-side corridor all the time. Let's grab 15 minutes, no pressure:
Considering options outside Grimes? Johnston sits directly east with a comparable district at slightly higher price points. Dallas Center is just north - quieter, smaller, with shared DCG schools. Urbandale is southeast with established Urbandale CSD schools and more established neighborhoods. Adel is west, the Dallas County seat with ADM schools and new construction on a longer commute.
Jackson Krile is a REALTOR® on the Flanders Team at RE/MAX Real Estate Center. Licensed in Iowa #S66867000. DMAAR + CIBR member.
Search live listings or get a personalized plan from someone who works this market daily.
Thinking about building new in Grimes? Read my guide to new-construction homes in Grimes.
Grimes spans Dallas and Polk counties in Iowa.
The main ZIP code for Grimes is 50111.
Grimes had 15,392 residents in the 2020 Census, and the Census Bureau estimates 17,405 as of July 1, 2025.
Most of Grimes is served by the Dallas Center-Grimes Community School District. By US Census Bureau school-district maps, a strip along the city's eastern edge, next to Johnston, and a small area at the north end are in the Johnston Community School District, and a small area at the south end is in the Urbandale Community School District. Confirm the district for a specific address.
Grimes is about 12 miles from Des Moines in a straight line, measured between the two cities' Census internal points; the drive is longer.
Sources: US Census Bureau (2020 place-by-county file; 2020 Census and July 1, 2025 estimates via QuickFacts; 2024 Gazetteer internal points); the State of Iowa ZIP code table; district names from the Iowa Department of Education directory and the districts and cities themselves, as summarized on our Grimes schools page.
Urbandale (3 mi) · Johnston (4 mi) · Clive (4 mi) · Granger (6 mi)
Compare: Grimes vs. Waukee
Straight-line miles between Census city points. See every area on the map