Skip to main content

Area data

West des moines, IA — ZIP 50265

Population: 33,488 (Census ACS)

The median home value in ZIP 50265 (West des moines, IA) is $314,234 — up 1.3% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $218,500 after a median 24.5 days on market. Typical rent runs $1,290/month. 8 schools serve the area (NCES). FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Relatively Moderate, with strongwind, coldwave, drought the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 10.5% below the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).

Backed by 25+ public sourcesFEMA · U.S. Census · NOAA · Dept. of Education · EPA · and more

$314,234

Median home value

+1.3%

1-year change

24.5

Median days on market

Relatively Moderate

Hazard risk (county)

Home values & appreciation

Median home value
$314,234
1-year appreciation
+1.3%
3-year appreciation
+6.6%
5-year appreciation
+21.5%
10-year appreciation
+57.6%
All-time peak (2026-02)
$315,787
House Price Index (state)
379.0 (+3.7% YoY)

Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)

Market activity

Median sale price
$218,500
Median list price
$212,500
Median price per sqft
$160
1-year sale-price change
-9.3%
Median days on market
24.5 days
Homes sold (recent period)
22
For-sale inventory
153
Sale-to-list ratio
99.1%
Active listings
21
1-year forecast
+0.6%
Days to pending
47 days
New listings (monthly)
58

Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)

Rents

Typical rent
$1,290/mo
1-year rent change
+1.6%
Studio fair-market rent
$1,020/mo
1BR fair-market rent
$1,070/mo
2BR fair-market rent
$1,270/mo
3BR fair-market rent
$1,730/mo
4BR fair-market rent
$1,770/mo

Sources: market rent index (ZIP-level) · HUD Fair Market Rents (metro/county-level, 40th-percentile regulatory reference)

Affordability

Cost of living index (Low)
89.5 (100 = US avg)
Electricity rate (state-level)
13.7¢/kWh
Natural gas rate (state-level)
$10.60/MCF
30-year mortgage rate (national)
6.66%
15-year mortgage rate (national)
6.00%

Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro/state-level) · EIA energy rates (state-level) · Freddie Mac PMMS (national)

Schools

Total schools
8
Elementary schools
4
Middle schools
1
High schools
1
Schools include
Jordan Creek Elementary School, Walnut Creek Campus, Valley Southwoods, Hillside Elementary School, Fairmeadows Elementary School

Source: NCES school directory, 2022-23 (school-address-based)

Natural hazards & flood risk

Overall hazard risk (county)
Relatively Moderate
Top hazards (county)
strongWind, coldWave, drought, hail, heatWave
Notable hazard ratings (county)
coldWave: Relatively High · drought: Relatively High · earthquake: Relatively Low · hail: Relatively High · heatWave: Relatively High · iceStorm: Relatively High
FEMA flood zone
A05
Flood risk level
High
Wildfire risk to homes (county)
Higher than 28% of US counties
Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
18.0%
Radon potential (county)
High radon potential — EPA Zone 1 of 3
EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
2
Nearest Superfund site
Railroad Avenue Groundwater Contamination (2.8 mi)
EPA recommends radon testing for every home regardless of zone.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA flood data (ZIP-level) · USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (county-level) · EPA radon zones + Superfund NPL

Climate (30-year normals)

Annual precipitation
40.7 in
USDA plant hardiness zone
5b (extreme annual low -15 to -10°F)

Sources: NOAA Climate Normals (30-year, nearest-station) · USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)

Air quality

Air quality rating
Moderate
Median AQI (annual)
52
Days with Good air quality
168
Days with Moderate air quality
182
Days with Unhealthy air quality
3
Highest AQI recorded (year)
166

Source: EPA air quality data (nearest monitoring station, annual)

Walkability & transit

Walkability index
12.0 / 20
Transit service frequency
1,094
Jobs reachable by car (30 min)
76,199
Jobs reachable by transit (45 min)
57,461

Source: EPA Smart Location Database (metropolitan block groups)

Amenities

Airports within 30 mi
19
Nearest airport
Hobbes Field (4 mi)
Nearest major airport
Des Moines International Airport (DSM) (5 mi)
Hospitals nearby (~15 mi)
3
Hospitals include
VA CENTRAL IOWA HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, UNITYPOINT HEALTH - DES MOINES IOWA METHODIST MEDI, CLIVE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
Avg hospital rating (CMS)
3.5 / 5
Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
4.0 / 5
Solar radiation rating
Fair (4.0 kWh/m²/day)

Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)

Migration

Net migration (county)
-1,132 tax filers

Source: IRS county-to-county migration data (county-level, ~12-month lag)

Housing stock

Median year housing built
1,984
Housing built before 1970
28.2%
Housing built 2000 or later
17.3%
Median annual property tax
$4,462
Mean commute to work
15 min
Households with broadband internet
80.2%

Source: Census ACS 5-year estimates (ZIP-level)

Employment & development

Total county employment
276,007
Average weekly wage
$1,354
Top industries (by employment)
Health Care, Finance & Insurance, Accommodation & Food
Annual residential building permits (county)
2,295

Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)

How it compares

ZIP 50265State medianUS median
Median home value$314,234$211,348$289,727
Median sale price$218,500$220,000$325,000
Median days on market25 days48 days51 days
Typical rent$1,290/mo$1,175/mo$1,808/mo
Median annual property tax$4,462$1,927$2,006

State and US medians are computed across all US ZIP codes with sufficient public-data coverage, from the same sources as the figures above.

Area data compiled from public government, academic, and industry research feeds. Data sources →

Common questions

What is the median home value in ZIP 50265?
$314,234.
What is the median sale price in ZIP 50265?
$218,500.
How long do homes take to sell in ZIP 50265?
Median days on market: 24.5 days.
What is typical rent in ZIP 50265?
Typical rent: $1,290/month.
What is the natural-hazard risk in ZIP 50265?
Overall risk: Relatively Moderate (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: strongWind, coldWave, drought, hail, heatWave.
Is ZIP 50265 in a flood zone?
High (FEMA NFIP). FEMA flood zone A05.
What is the wildfire risk in ZIP 50265?
Risk to homes is higher than 28% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
What is the radon potential in ZIP 50265?
High radon potential — EPA Zone 1 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
Are there Superfund sites near ZIP 50265?
2 current or proposed National Priorities List sites within 5 miles (EPA). Nearest site: Railroad Avenue Groundwater Contamination, 2.8 mi.
How many schools serve ZIP 50265?
8 schools (4 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high) (NCES, 2022-23).
Is ZIP 50265 walkable?
Walkability index: 12.0/20 (EPA Smart Location Database).
What is the air quality in ZIP 50265?
Moderate. Median AQI: 52. (EPA AQI).
What is the cost of living in ZIP 50265?
Regional Price Parity: 89.5 (100 = US average) (Low) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).

Nearby ZIP codes

Selling a home in West des moines, IA?

REAIGENT7 gives every listing its own AI assistant grounded in this same public data — it answers buyer questions about the home and the area, around the clock, and sends every lead to the listing agent. Agents: it installs on your listing page, your website, or WordPress.

Data last updated

Most recent source refresh: Sep 2026. See all data sources →

Data compiled by REAIGENT7 — AI listing platform for real estate agents