Zillow puts the typical West Des Moines home value at $322,200 as of the end of August 2026, up 0.5% from $320,700 a year earlier.
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (all homes, smoothed and seasonally adjusted), Zillow Research data file through August 31, 2026, accessed 2026-10-12 - a typical-value estimate rounded to the nearest $100, not an MLS closed-sale median. Last updated: October 12, 2026
West Des Moines is the metro's established west-side anchor - a city of 74,224 people in the Census Bureau's July 1, 2025 estimate. It's where Historic Valley Junction's original brick storefronts sit ten minutes from Jordan Creek Town Center. It's a city that spans four counties, five school districts, and a price range wide enough to fit a first-time buyer and a corporate relocation on the same day. When a buyer wants west-metro convenience with real staying power, West Des Moines almost always makes the short list. For current prices and neighborhoods by county, see my guide to homes for sale in West Des Moines.
West Des Moines earned its demand the slow way - decades of steady growth. In my experience, three things pull people here:
Here's something I tell every buyer: West Des Moines isn't one market. It's several distinct sub-markets, each with its own character and price band - and knowing the difference up front saves you weeks of touring the wrong homes. Price ranges below reflect mid-2026 conditions and move month to month.
Historic Valley Junction / 5th Street - The city's original downtown (50265, Polk County, Valley schools). Older bungalows and character homes, walk-to-shops, the weekly farmers market, and locally owned restaurants. Inventory turns over slowly. Price range: roughly $225K - $425K. Best for: buyers who value walkability and character over new finishes.
Jordan Creek / West Glen - The newer west end (50266, Dallas County, Waukee schools). Newer construction, townhomes, and single-family homes near Jordan Creek Town Center and West Glen. Price range: roughly $300K - $650K+ depending on lot and finish. Best for: buyers who want newer builds and west-side retail at their doorstep.
Glen Oaks / Country Club area - Established executive neighborhoods on the Dallas County side, anchored by golf-course living. Price range: roughly $500K - $1.2M+. Best for: move-up and luxury buyers.
Fox Creek / Mills Civic corridor - 1990s - 2010s subdivisions clustered near the school and civic campus off Mills Civic Parkway. Price range: roughly $350K - $600K. Best for: buyers prioritizing the Valley feeder pattern.
Central West Des Moines / Ashworth & Raccoon River - Established mid-century ranches and split-levels with mature trees, near Raccoon River Park (50265). Price range: roughly $250K - $450K. Best for: first-time buyers, value hunters, and house hackers eyeing walk-out ranches. Whichever sub-market fits, my framework for affording a home in West Des Moines covers income, debt, and the Iowa property-tax factor.
West Des Moines in 2026 is a more balanced market than the frenzy years, but it remains competitive. A few patterns I'm watching (mid-2026 figures, source: homes.com market data):
I send a free Central Iowa market report every month with the actual numbers. Get on the list at Jackson's Hub →
House hacking is one of my specialties, and West Des Moines has some genuinely good setups for it. Three reasons:
If you're investment-minded and early in your career, this is a strategy worth running the numbers on. See the West Des Moines house-hacking breakdown → or read the full house hacking playbook here →
Schools here come down to which county the home sits in - so this is one of the first things I confirm for any address:
For the full picture, see my deep-dive on West Des Moines schools. Always verify the current attendance zone for a specific address - boundaries shift as the metro grows, and the objective place for outcomes is the Iowa Department of Education's School Performance Profiles.
Whether you're a first-time buyer, a house hacker, or moving up, West Des Moines rewards buyers who know which sub-market and which school district fit their plan - and who can move with confidence when the right home shows up. I live and work this market every day, and I'm happy to help you get your bearings - no pressure. Let's set up a free 15-minute conversation:
Considering alternatives? Clive sits just north, sharing the West Des Moines and Waukee school lines along the Clive Greenbelt. Urbandale is minutes northeast with its own district and established neighborhoods. Waukee anchors the fast-growing Dallas County corridor immediately west. Norwalk is south, with newer construction and its own school district.
Jackson Krile is a REALTOR® on the Flanders Team at RE/MAX Real Estate Center. Licensed in Iowa #S66867000. DMAAR + CIBR member. Serving West Des Moines, Clive, Urbandale, Waukee, and surrounding Central Iowa communities. Market figures reflect mid-2026 and change month to month.
Search live listings or get a personalized plan from someone who works this market daily.
West Des Moines spans Dallas, Madison, Polk and Warren counties in Iowa.
West Des Moines uses ZIP codes 50265 and 50266; the Warren County part of the city uses 50061.
West Des Moines had 68,723 residents in the 2020 Census, and the Census Bureau estimates 74,224 as of July 1, 2025.
The West Des Moines Community School District serves the Polk County part of West Des Moines and the Waukee Community School District serves most of the Dallas County part; by US Census Bureau school-district maps, a small far-southwest corner falls in the Van Meter Community School District, the city's Warren County part in the Norwalk Community School District, its small Madison County part in the Winterset Community School District and a pocket on the east side in Des Moines Public Schools. Confirm the district for a specific address.
West Des Moines is about 9 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 West Des Moines schools page.
Clive (4 mi) · Windsor Heights (5 mi) · Waukee (6 mi) · Urbandale (6 mi)
Compare: West Des Moines vs. Ankeny
Straight-line miles between Census city points. See every area on the map