The story of this market
The typical home in Polk City, Iowa sells for about $450,000, or $265 per square foot.
Prices are up +4.2% from a year ago, so sellers still have some momentum. Homes take about 42 days to sell. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $1,650 a month.
Monthly price momentum
Home values since 2015
+1.5%
IA · past 12 months
Freddie Mac House Price Index, single-family homes, monthly through 2026-08. Each line starts at 100 in January 2015, so a reading of 180 means prices are up 80% since then.
Polk City, Iowa
Polk City's housing market is characterized by strong demand and limited inventory, driven by its reputation as a high-quality suburban destination. Rapid population growth and high median household incomes continue to support rising home values, though the market remains sensitive to interest rate fluctuations. The city's focus on infrastructure and recreational amenities continues to attract families and professionals, keeping the market outlook positive.
No ARED county foreclosure postings attributed to Polk City yet — the verified ledger covers every county the foreclosure ingest has read, attributed by published city area. Key-figure check: no independent anchor retained yet — first-researched cycles establish the anchor baseline this pass.
Deterministic aggregate of 1 researched ZIP reports — sales_count-weighted (population fallback); per point, children lacking the value or its weight are excluded. Tax rates, sentiment and context notes are tier-native and never roll.
Median prices moved up 1.0% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 57 days on market with 3.6 months of supply — a fast-moving market.
19% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 98.9% of asking — demand is running ahead of supply.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 2.1% · poverty 6.8% — a stable, low-distress profile.
The amenity base that shapes daily life and property demand in this city — what residents actually live with, and what the pipeline is adding.
A major regional destination offering boating, swimming, and picnicking, serving as a primary anchor for local property value.
A renowned regional trail featuring a landmark bridge, attracting visitors and enhancing the lifestyle appeal of the city.
An Arnold Palmer-designed course that provides high-end recreational opportunities and supports the local luxury housing market.
Polk City is ideal for families seeking a high quality of life, outdoor enthusiasts who value proximity to lakes and trails, and professionals who prefer a quiet, small-town environment within a reasonable commute of Des Moines.
The city is served by the North Polk Community School District, which is highly regarded for its academic performance and strong community support.
Transportation is primarily automobile-dependent, with Highway 415 serving as the main artery connecting the city to the broader Des Moines highway network.
Polk City is a premier recreational hub in Central Iowa, featuring direct access to Big Creek State Park, Saylorville Lake, and extensive trail systems like the High Trestle Trail.
The rental market is characterized by low vacancy rates and high demand, driven by families seeking access to the North Polk school system and professionals working in the metro area.
The economy is largely driven by its status as a residential suburb of the Greater Des Moines region, with residents employed in finance, insurance, and government sectors in the nearby metro area.
Polk City is experiencing significant residential growth driven by its proximity to the Des Moines employment core and its reputation as a recreational destination.
The city is actively managing growth through infrastructure upgrades and the solicitation of private developers for infill projects to maintain its small-town character.
Parcels are subject to standard municipal, county, and school district levies, with no significant MUD or PID structures reported.
Polk City maintains a low crime rate consistent with its small-town character and is generally considered safer than the regional average for the Des Moines metro area.
The area is subject to standard Midwestern weather risks, including severe thunderstorms and occasional wind events, with localized flood risks near Saylorville Lake and Big Creek.
Property insurance premiums are stable but reflect regional exposure to severe weather, including wind and hail risks common in Central Iowa.
Composed from the ARED governance burden registry — tier-native tax structure (state + county + city + special districts), never averaged. State (Iowa) — Iowa Property Tax Assessment Limitation: The taxable value is determined by applying an assessment limitation (rollback) to the assessed market value. The limitation is calculated annually to restrict the growth in aggregate taxable value for the residential class to 3% statewide.
ACS 2024 5-year estimates. Aggregate published statistics for this city — never individual records, and never an attribute of any individual property or resident.
Researched annual trajectory for this city, from published historical series
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 6.1%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
Median annual property tax paid on this city's residential parcels
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 5.6%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
Data retrieved from US Census Bureau QuickFacts and ACS 5-year estimates.
Public schools whose reported address is in this area (NCES). Not attendance boundaries — schools that serve residents may sit outside it. Check the district's address locator for assignment.