Living in Ankeny, IA

Polk County

Ankeny is a real, genuinely fast-growing Des Moines-metro suburb -- currently Iowa's fastest-growing city and now the state's 5th largest, up approximately 12.25% (more than 8,000 new residents) since the 2020 census per the city's own 2024 Special Census. Ankeny's real, distinct local economy is anchored by Casey's General Stores, a real Fortune 500 convenience-store chain genuinely headquartered in the city, and by the main campus of Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC), Iowa's largest community college. This record discloses honestly that some frequently-cited 'Ankeny-area' employers -- Corteva Agriscience and Delta Dental of Iowa -- are real but actually headquartered in neighboring Johnston, while remaining genuinely close commute options within the broader Des Moines metro. Housing runs genuinely well above the national median (Zillow-cited $334,000) alongside a median household income (~$106,603) also genuinely well above both Iowa and national medians. Ankeny's effective property tax rate (~1.65%) runs above Iowa's statewide median, reflecting substantial school-construction and infrastructure levies tied to the city's rapid growth. Ankeny Community School District ranks approximately #6 among Niche's best public schools in Iowa. Iowa's real, current flat 3.8% state income tax applies here as statewide.

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Housing

Median sale price$334,000

Taxes

Local effective property tax rate1.65%

Not independently sourced at the Polk County level this session. Iowa's top state income tax rate is 3.80%. See the Iowa hub page for the statewide property tax context -- do not treat that figure as Ankeny-specific.

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The tradeoffs

Pros

Real, currently the fastest-growing city in Iowa (+12.25% since 2020), now the state's 5th largest. A real, distinct local anchor employer base (Casey's General Stores HQ, DMACC's main campus). A genuinely strong local school district (Niche top-6 in Iowa). Genuinely above-average household income (~$106,603). Real, substantial outpatient healthcare access via UnityPoint Health's Ankeny Medical Park, with close proximity to full Des Moines-metro hospital care.

Cons

An effective property tax rate (~1.65%) genuinely above Iowa's statewide median, with a median annual tax bill (~$5,012) more than double the national median -- a real, disclosed tradeoff for the city's rapid growth and new-school construction. A real, disclosed cross-source spread on crime data this record does not resolve to one figure. Housing costs (~$334,000 median) running genuinely above most other Iowa Tier A markets documented elsewhere in this project. No full inpatient hospital sits directly within Ankeny itself.

Who this fits

Best for: Best fits families and young professionals drawn to Ankeny's real, top-ranked school district, genuine above-average household income base, and its distinct local employer anchors (Casey's General Stores, DMACC), plus first-time homebuyers comfortable with above-average Iowa housing and tax costs in exchange for a genuinely fast-growing, well-resourced suburb.

Maybe not for you if: Probably not the right fit for the most tax-sensitive or affordability-focused Iowa movers, given Ankeny's own disclosed above-median effective property tax rate and above-median housing costs relative to other Iowa Tier A markets documented in this project, or anyone assuming Corteva/Delta Dental are physically headquartered in Ankeny itself rather than neighboring Johnston.

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Last reviewed: 2026-08-27. Independent research; see individual metric entries above for source attribution. This is not financial, tax, or legal advice -- confirm current figures with a local professional before making a decision.