What’s the best part of Des Moines?
It could be where everyone knows their neighbor. Or it could be where home prices are the highest, meaning it’s where everyone wants to live.
Instead of relying on public opinion and speculation, we wanted to get the facts straight and find out which neighborhoods in Des Moines are the best based on Saturday Night Science.
Whether you live in the sticks or in an apartment building downtown, you want a little pocket that you can call home. And each neighborhood offers different perks and benefits.
Smaller neighborhoods usually have obvious benefits — less crime, a slower pace of life, and a lower cost of living. But not all Des Moines neighborhoods are created equal. Some are better than others. But which ones?
If you’re thinking of moving to Iowa and Des Moines is on the top of your list, check out the best neighborhoods for 2024.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
So what’s the best neighborhood to live in Des Moines for 2024? According to the most recent census data, Waterbury looks to be the best Des Moines neighborhood to live in.
Read on to see how we determined the places around Des Moines that deserve a little bragging rights, or maybe you’re interested in the worst neighborhoods in Des Moines.
For more Iowa reading, check out:
The 10 Best Neighborhoods To Live In Des Moines
Population: 2,817
Median Home Value: $296,550 (Fourth best)
Median Income: $145,591 (best)
More on Waterbury: Data | Real Estate
Population: 641
Median Home Value: $236,200 (Eighth best)
Median Income: $73,304 (Eighth best)
More on Ingersoll Park: Data | Real Estate
Population: 5,358
Median Home Value: $305,300 (Third best)
Median Income: $64,784 (17th best)
More on Downtown Des Moines: Data | Real Estate
Population: 1,209
Median Home Value: $338,750 (Second best)
Median Income: $95,572 (Second best)
More on Salisbury Oaks: Data | Real Estate
Population: 1,101
Median Home Value: $276,100 (Sixth best)
Median Income: $70,557 (Tenth best)
More on Greenwood: Data | Real Estate
Population: 441
Median Home Value: $357,000 (best)
Median Income: $82,279 (Sixth best)
More on Linden Heights: Data | Real Estate
Population: 3,156
Median Home Value: $201,533 (Tenth best)
Median Income: $90,268 (Third best)
More on Waveland Park: Data | Real Estate
Population: 9,096
Median Home Value: $175,960 (14th best)
Median Income: $72,005 (Ninth best)
More on Beaverdale: Data | Real Estate
Population: 5,951
Median Home Value: $165,500 (16th best)
Median Income: $67,550 (14th best)
More on Lower Beaver: Data | Real Estate
Population: 922
Median Home Value: $166,600 (15th best)
Median Income: $65,250 (16th best)
More on Waveland Woods: Data | Real Estate
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Des Moines, IA Neighborhoods In 2024
To rank the best neighborhoods in Des Moines, we had to determine what criteria define “best” and then apply Saturday Night Science to it.
Using FBI crime, Census, and extrapolated BLS data, we arrived at the following set of criteria:
- High incomes
- Low unemployment rates
- Low crime
- High home prices
- High population densities (A proxy for things to do)
We then ranked each neighborhood with scores from 1 to 50 in each category, where 1 was the best.
Next, we averaged the rankings for each neighborhood to create a best neighborhood index.
And finally, we crowned the neighborhood with the lowest best neighborhood index, the “Best City Neighborhood In Des Moines.” We’re lookin’ at you, Waterbury.
Read on below to learn more about what it’s like to live in the best places Des Moines, Iowa has to offer. Or skip to the end to see the list of all the neighborhoods in the city, from best to worst.
We updated this article for 2024. This report is our tenth time ranking the best neighborhoods to live in Des Moines.
Summary: Putting A Bow On Our Analysis Of The Best Neighborhoods In Des Moines
If you’re measuring the neighborhoods in Des Moines where crime is low and everyone wants to live, this is an accurate list.
The best neighborhoods in Des Moines are Waterbury, Ingersoll Park, Downtown Des Moines, Salisbury Oaks, Greenwood, Linden Heights, Waveland Park, Beaverdale, Lower Beaver, and Waveland Woods.
As mentioned earlier, the neighborhoods in Des Moines aren’t all good. Capitol East takes the title of the worst neighborhood to live in Des Moines.
The worst neighborhoods in Des Moines are Capitol East, Cheatom Park, New Vision, Capitol View South, and River Bend.
We ranked the neighborhoods from best to worst in the chart below.
For more Iowa reading, check out:
Best Neighborhoods To Live In Des Moines For 2024 Detailed Data
| Rank | Neighborhood | Population | Home Value | Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Waterbury | 2,817 | $296,550 | $145,591 |
| 2 | Ingersoll Park | 641 | $236,200 | $73,304 |
| 3 | Downtown Des Moines | 5,358 | $305,300 | $64,784 |
| 4 | Salisbury Oaks | 1,209 | $338,750 | $95,572 |
| 5 | Greenwood | 1,101 | $276,100 | $70,557 |
| 6 | Linden Heights | 441 | $357,000 | $82,279 |
| 7 | Waveland Park | 3,156 | $201,533 | $90,268 |
| 8 | Beaverdale | 9,096 | $175,960 | $72,005 |
| 9 | Lower Beaver | 5,951 | $165,500 | $67,550 |
| 10 | Waveland Woods | 922 | $166,600 | $65,250 |
| 11 | North Of Grand | 2,928 | $150,700 | $50,678 |
| 12 | Sherman Hill | 1,633 | $276,200 | $48,500 |
| 13 | Meredith | 4,719 | $208,000 | $82,472 |
| 14 | Drake | 11,707 | $148,092 | $50,473 |
| 15 | Woodland Heights | 2,179 | $137,767 | $48,632 |
| 16 | Southwestern Hills | 5,139 | $193,675 | $85,573 |
| 17 | Merle Hay | 9,321 | $148,409 | $60,055 |
| 18 | Magnolia Park | 1,403 | $136,900 | $47,049 |
| 19 | Gray’s Woods | 2,370 | $116,450 | $54,532 |
| 20 | Bloomfield-Allen | 9,066 | $149,900 | $70,410 |
| 21 | Chautauqua Park | 461 | $97,100 | $44,750 |
| 22 | Arbor Peaks | 1,094 | $176,933 | $46,908 |
| 23 | Westwood | 1,556 | $261,550 | $69,514 |
| 24 | Union Park | 6,702 | $100,350 | $50,720 |
| 25 | Greater South Side | 8,597 | $127,050 | $52,697 |
| 26 | South Park | 4,114 | $146,900 | $43,188 |
| 27 | Valley High Manor | 235 | $134,600 | $74,427 |
| 28 | Indianola Hills | 5,271 | $127,000 | $49,755 |
| 29 | Accent | 3,853 | $103,925 | $56,897 |
| 30 | Jordan Park | 2,175 | $116,700 | $26,350 |
| 31 | Somerset | 232 | $178,900 | $34,952 |
| 32 | Oak Park | 4,111 | $114,700 | $54,186 |
| 33 | Fairmont Park | 4,619 | $115,650 | $58,630 |
| 34 | Kirkwood Glen | 300 | $105,700 | $25,865 |
| 35 | Douglas Acres | 2,996 | $133,200 | $56,297 |
| 36 | Fairground | 4,460 | $78,871 | $38,775 |
| 37 | Martin Luther King Jr Park | 2,802 | $75,800 | $34,053 |
| 38 | Capitol Park | 2,630 | $84,950 | $39,602 |
| 39 | Highland Park | 9,529 | $107,356 | $48,216 |
| 40 | Mckinley School | 1,750 | $83,933 | $43,808 |
| 41 | Laurel Hill | 322 | $124,700 | $67,838 |
| 42 | Drake Park | 850 | $133,900 | $38,315 |
| 43 | King-Irving Park | 2,399 | $86,950 | $29,094 |
| 44 | Garton West | 57 | $93,800 | $66,094 |
| 45 | Mondamin Presidentia | 2,112 | $75,800 | $35,516 |
| 46 | River Bend | 2,522 | $121,000 | $35,134 |
| 47 | Capitol View South | 421 | $78,300 | $42,059 |
| 48 | New Vision | 858 | $61,400 | $32,832 |
| 49 | Cheatom Park | 1,542 | $89,900 | $41,255 |
| 50 | Capitol East | 1,488 | $71,067 | $36,169 |