The story of this market
The typical home in ZIP 50265 sells for about $345,000, or $194 per square foot.
Prices are up +1.4% from a year ago, so sellers still have some momentum. Homes take about 29 days to sell, which is fast. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $1,106 a month.
ZIP 50265 — West Des Moines
The 50265 housing market remains stable with moderate price appreciation and healthy demand. Low inventory levels continue to support prices, though the market is balanced for most price points. Buyers are active, but the pace of sales has normalized compared to previous years.
This ZIP is ideal for families and professionals who value suburban amenities, high-quality schools, and proximity to major corporate employers in the Des Moines metro.
Median prices moved up 1.4% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 29 days on market with 4.5 months of supply — a fast-moving market.
0% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 100% of asking — demand is running ahead of supply.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 2.3% · poverty 7.9% — a stable, low-distress profile.
Researched annual trajectory for this ZIP, from published historical series
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 5.4%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
versus the prior ACS vintage
ZCTA 50265
ACS 2024 5-year estimates. Aggregate published statistics for this ZIP — never individual records, and never an attribute of any individual property or resident.
The area is served by the West Des Moines Community School District, which is generally well-regarded within the Des Moines metropolitan region.
West Des Moines is a major economic hub for the region, featuring significant corporate office developments and retail expansion along the Mills Civic Parkway corridor.
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.
Residents have direct access to I-235 and I-35, providing a straightforward commute to downtown Des Moines and other major employment centers in the metro area.
The area features extensive access to local parks, the Raccoon River Park, and proximity to major shopping and dining districts like Jordan Creek Town Center.
The rental market is stable with a mix of multi-family apartments and single-family rentals, supported by the area's strong employment base.
The economy is anchored by a strong mix of financial services, insurance, and retail sectors, with significant corporate presence in West Des Moines.
The area is served by a network of major highways including I-35 and I-80, facilitating regional connectivity.
Ongoing commercial and mixed-use development continues along the Mills Civic Parkway and Jordan Creek corridors.
Parcels are subject to West Des Moines Community School District levies and various municipal utility and flood control districts.
Data retrieved from census.gov ZCTA-level tables.
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.
A large regional park featuring a lake, beach, and extensive trail system.
A major regional shopping and entertainment destination.
Key-figure check: no independent anchor retained yet — first-researched cycles establish the anchor baseline this pass.