Urbandale, IA

Urbandale feels like the quiet, well-kept secret of the Des Moines metro—a place where the schools are the community anchor, the commute is genuinely painless, and your neighbors are as likely to be a John Deere engineer as a small business owner. It’s not a flashy suburb, but it’s the kind of place where people stay for decades, trading nightlife for a solid backyard, a good school district, and the ability to get to downtown Des Moines in under 20 minutes.

The Daily Rhythm: Work, Errands, and the Weekend

Life here revolves around a comfortable, predictable routine. With a median household income of $113,086, the community is solidly upper-middle class, and that shows in how people spend their time. The average commute is just over 18 minutes, which means most residents work in Des Moines or West Des Moines—at places like Wells Fargo, Principal Financial, or John Deere’s Des Moines Operations Center—and are home in time to coach a youth soccer game or fire up the grill. You’ll see families at the Urbandale Public Library on a Tuesday night, or grabbing a quick dinner at B-Bop’s (a local drive-in burger chain that’s a rite of passage). Weekends often mean a trip to the Urbandale Farmers Market (May through October) or a hike at Walnut Creek Regional Park, which has a solid network of paved trails that connect to the broader Des Moines system. The median age of 38.7 tells you this isn’t a college town or a retirement enclave—it’s squarely in the family-raising sweet spot.

Sports, Schools, and the Community Fabric

High school sports are a genuine big deal here. Urbandale High School (the J-Hawks) and Des Moines Christian (a private school just across the border) draw real crowds for Friday night football and basketball. The rivalry with nearby Johnston and Valley (West Des Moines) is friendly but intense—expect to see parents tailgating in the parking lot before a big game. For pro sports, you’re 15 minutes from the Iowa Cubs (Triple-A baseball) at Principal Park and the Iowa Wild (AHL hockey) at Wells Fargo Arena. The Iowa State Fair, just a 10-minute drive east, is an annual pilgrimage for everyone—corn dogs, the butter cow, and the Grandstand concert series are non-negotiable. The Urbandale Fourth of July celebration at Walker Johnston Park is the local highlight: a parade, live music, and fireworks that feel genuinely small-town despite the metro setting.

What Frustrates and What Delights

Let’s be honest about the downsides. The cost of living index is 106—slightly above the national average—and median home values are $318,800, which is high for central Iowa. That prices out some young families and renters. Traffic on 86th Street and Aurora Avenue can get congested during rush hour, though it’s nothing like a big city. Some longtime residents grumble that Urbandale is “too safe” or “too quiet”—if you want a vibrant bar scene or late-night food options, you’re driving to the East Village in Des Moines. The violent crime rate of 118 per 100,000 is low, but property crime (especially package theft and unlocked car break-ins) is a minor annoyance in some neighborhoods.

On the upside, the 51.4% college-educated population means you’ll find neighbors who are engaged and informed. The schools—Urbandale Community School District—are a major draw, with strong STEM programs and a well-regarded Urbandale High School. The weather is classic Iowa: hot, humid summers (you’ll learn to love air conditioning) and cold, snowy winters (invest in a good snowblower). The upside is that the seasons give the community a rhythm—everyone gets outside in the fall for the Urbandale Pumpkin Patch, and the winter brings the Urbandale Winterfest with ice skating and hot cocoa. The Douglas Avenue corridor is the commercial spine, with a mix of national chains (Target, Costco) and local standbys like Jethro’s BBQ and Fong’s Pizza (a Des Moines institution known for crab rangoon pizza).

Who Fits In Here

Urbandale is best suited for families and professionals who value stability, safety, and convenience over excitement. It’s a place where you can raise kids without worrying about traffic jams or crime, where you know your neighbors by name, and where the biggest decision of the week is whether to hit the farmers market or the trails. Single individuals might find it a bit sleepy unless they’re deeply into outdoor activities or have a strong friend group already in the metro. The cultural vibe is pragmatic, Midwestern, and slightly conservative—you’ll see plenty of American flags and pickup trucks, but also a growing number of young families moving in from the coasts for the lower cost of living and good schools. It’s not a place for trendsetters or night owls, but for anyone looking for a solid, unpretentious place to put down roots, it’s hard to beat.