Sarah Ingles, REALTOR® SRES® · Fathom Realty
Waukee and Ankeny are the two most popular Des Moines metro suburbs for families and downsizers in 2026. Both have top-5 school districts, strong job access, and active housing markets. So which one is right for you? After helping hundreds of metro buyers compare the two, here is the honest side-by-side.
| Factor | Waukee | Ankeny | |---|---|---| | Median home price | ~$375,000 | ~$315,000 | | School district rating | Top 5 in Iowa | Top 5 in Iowa | | Commute to downtown | 18-25 min | 15-20 min | | Population | ~26,000 (fastest-growing) | ~68,000 | | Metro geographic position | West metro | North metro | | New construction availability | Very high | High | | 55+ community options | Growing (Courtyards at King's Landing) | Extensive (Maplewood Village, Villas at Stonewater, Connect55+, Vineyard at Prairie Trail) | | Property tax rate | Slightly lower (Dallas County) | Polk County rates | | Commercial/retail | Growing (new Costco, Hy-Vee) | Extensive (Prairie Ridge, Uptown Ankeny) |
Both districts consistently rank in the top 5 in Iowa. Waukee Community School District serves Waukee, parts of West Des Moines, and parts of Clive (the boundary matters — verify before buying). Ankeny Community School District serves Ankeny and has two high schools: Ankeny High and Ankeny Centennial.
Waukee advantages: Newer school buildings (Waukee Northwest opened 2021), strong STEM programs, competitive athletics.
Ankeny advantages: Larger student body, two high schools let you pick based on neighborhood boundary, strong arts and music, deeper extracurricular options.
For most families, both are excellent — the choice comes down to housing style and price, not schools.
Waukee:
Ankeny:
Bottom line on housing: Ankeny gives you more house for the money; Waukee gives you newer construction and larger planned-community amenities.
Both are reasonable commutes to downtown Des Moines. Ankeny has a slight edge because I-35 is a faster straight shot, while Waukee requires I-80 or University Avenue. Real-world commute times:
If your commute or shopping orbit is west-metro (Jordan Creek, Valley Junction, Westroads), Waukee wins. If your commute is downtown or north (Ankeny, Johnston, Grimes), Ankeny wins.
Waukee: Growing fast. Costco opened 2024. New Hy-Vee, restaurants, parks. Family-focused. Centennial Park is the flagship community park. Less retail density than Ankeny but catching up.
Ankeny: One of the most amenity-rich suburbs in Iowa. Prairie Ridge shopping, Uptown Ankeny, DMACC Ankeny campus, Prairie Meadows Racetrack (just east in Altoona), Prairie Ridge Aquatic Center, Kirkendall Library. Extensive parks and trails.
This is where Ankeny has a clear lead. Ankeny is one of the top 55+ markets in Iowa with four major communities:
Waukee has fewer 55+ options currently, though Courtyards at King's Landing is a well-regarded Epcon 55+ community.
Waukee straddles Dallas and Polk counties — most Waukee addresses are Dallas County, which has slightly lower effective tax rates than Polk County.
Ankeny is all Polk County. Slightly higher effective tax rates, but Ankeny's newer construction often comes with slightly higher assessments anyway.
For a $350,000 home, the annual property tax difference between Waukee (Dallas) and Ankeny (Polk) is typically $200-$500 — small enough that it shouldn't drive the decision.
Waukee has been the fastest-growing city in Iowa for several years running. Population has nearly doubled since 2010. If that continues, home appreciation will likely outpace Ankeny for another 5-10 years.
Ankeny has grown more slowly but from a much larger base. It's more built-out, which means more stability but less upside.
Q: Is Ankeny or Waukee better for families? A: Both are excellent for families — both have top-5 Iowa school districts and strong family amenities. Waukee has newer construction and more brand-new schools; Ankeny has more amenities and broader housing inventory. The choice usually comes down to commute direction and budget.
Q: Which is cheaper, Waukee or Ankeny? A: Ankeny is cheaper on average. Median home price in Ankeny is about $315,000 vs $375,000 in Waukee — roughly 16% less. Ankeny also has a wider range of entry-level inventory under $250,000.
Q: Is Waukee growing faster than Ankeny? A: Yes. Waukee has been the fastest-growing city in Iowa for several years. Ankeny is still growing but from a much larger base, so percentage growth is slower.
Q: Which suburb is better for retirees? A: Ankeny, by a significant margin. Ankeny has four major 55+ communities (Maplewood Village, Villas at Stonewater, Connect55+ Ankeny, Vineyard at Prairie Trail) while Waukee has fewer options. Ankeny's amenities and single-level housing inventory also favor retirees.
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