Polk County · Des Moines-West Des Moines · population 76,727
Where Ankeny stands
At or near all-time high. population growing 3.1% per year.
Home value trajectory · last 10 years
Zillow ZHVI · monthlyLifestyle scores
Scores are heuristic estimates from population density, state, and known transit/walkable cities. Not based on a paid Walk Score / Transit Score API — see methodology for the formula.
Rent trajectory · last 5 years
Zillow ZORI · monthlyHome value vs rent · indexed to 100
Both rebased at first month of ZORI data (~2015)Rent vs buy
At a 19.5 price-to-rent ratio, Ankeny is in the 'depends on horizon' zone. Buy if you'll be there 5+ years and value flexibility on the home; rent if you might move, want zero maintenance friction, or expect rates to drop.
How the momentum score breaks down
methodology →Ankeny has held up across the cycle: home values at $339,219 with +4.4% 5-year CAGR. The bull case is structural — population, location, employer base — and holds even if next year's print is soft.
Ankeny's bear case is the boring one: the cycle is real and any market that's run hard can stall. Watch for slowing population growth, rising days-on-market, or builder discounts as the early warning signals.
About Ankeny
Ankeny is a city in Polk County, Iowa, with an estimated population of 76,727. It anchors the Des Moines-West Des Moines metro area. The population has grown 3.1% per year on average between 2020 and 2024 — among the faster-growing communities in the state. The median home value in Ankeny is $339,219 as of 2026-04, up 1.7% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +4.4% annual growth, with prices at or near the 5-year peak. Rents in Ankeny average $1,451 per month, roughly flat year-over-year (+0.6%). The composite momentum score is 69 of 100 (Rising). The market is healthy with prices supported by underlying demand.
▲ Bull case
▼ Bear case
About Ankeny (Wikipedia)
Ankeny is a city in Polk County, Iowa, United States and a suburb of the state capital of Des Moines. The population was 67,887 at the 2020 census, and was estimated at 76,727 in 2024, making it Iowa's fifth-most populous city. It is part of the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is one of Iowa's fastest-growing cities.
Source: Wikipedia · this summary is contributed and licensed under CC-BY-SA.
City facts
Extracted from the Wikipedia infobox. Values may be slightly out of date relative to the latest sources.
Playbook
You're not in a frenzy but you're not getting bargains either. Make a competitive offer with normal inspection terms. Don't lowball — the listing will move with or without you.
Price at fair market value; expect movement in 30-45 days. Don't get clever with terms (rent-back, contingencies) — buyers in a Rising market have options.
Appreciation tailwind exists but cash flow requires discipline on price. Run the numbers conservatively and confirm rent comps before committing.
Local safety & alerts
No active National Weather Service alerts for Polk County right now.
Public-safety links are official .gov sources, not curated by us. Polk County routes NWS alerts; check the state EM portal for non-weather emergencies.
Cities like Ankeny
Run the numbers for Ankeny
Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.
Climate & natural-disaster risk
State-level averages from NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020) and FEMA National Risk Index. City-level conditions can vary significantly within a state.
Current weather
Find rentals & listings
Open current Ankeny listings on the major real-estate sites.
Links open the live search on the destination site — results are always current.
Local news & community
Latest news
- Northbound I-35 between Ankeny and Huxley closing overnight on Thursdayweareiowa.com · 1h ago
- Overnight Closure of Northbound I-35 from Northeast 36th Street to Iowa 210 for Barrier Removal Begins on May 21Iowa Department of Transportation (.gov) · 2d ago
- Ankeny named one of the best places to live in U.S.KCCI · 1d ago
- I-35 closing between Ankeny and Huxley. Follow this overnight detour.The Des Moines Register · 16h ago
- Ankeny man sentenced to 25 years in prison on domestic abuse, kidnapping casePolk County Iowa (.gov) · 5d ago
- Which Iowa Cities Made the New Best Places to Live List?98.1 KHAK · 15h ago
Updated 2026-05-21 from Google News + Reddit RSS. Headlines link to original sources.
Local sports teams
Major professional teams the Des Moines-West Des Moines area cheers for. Detailed stats, schedules, and player pages on intherafters.com.
Local economy & environment
Humidity is annual average relative humidity (NOAA). Income is Census ACS 5-year estimate. Industries are largest employment sectors statewide (BLS); the local mix in a given city may vary.
Cities similar to Ankeny
Explore other places with comparable momentum or affordability.