The Waukee Brief
If you're eyeing a move to Waukee, you've probably already seen it show up on a "best suburbs" list. That's real, but you want the honest version from people who actually live here, trade-offs and all. Here's the straight answer: the rankings, the safety and schools, what it costs, and who Waukee is (and isn't) for.
Yes, especially for families. Waukee is one of the fastest-growing cities in Iowa and the largest in Dallas County, and it ranks near the top of Niche's 2026 lists for best suburbs and best public schools in the state. Expect a highly rated school district, low crime, lots of new housing and trails, and a ~20-25 min drive to downtown Des Moines. The trade-offs: it's growing fast (traffic, constant construction) and suburban and car-dependent, not a walkable big-city vibe.
On Niche's 2026 rankings, Waukee lands near the top of Iowa: it's rated one of the state's best suburbs to live in and one of the best suburbs for public schools, and its highly rated district is a headline reason people move. Rankings deserve a grain of salt, but Waukee keeps showing up on them, which tells you something. What's beyond dispute is the growth: the 2024 Special Census counted 31,823 residents, up from 23,940 in 2020.
Waukee is a suburb of Des Moines on the metro's western edge, close enough for a metro job and big-city amenities, far enough to feel like its own fast-building town. The relentless growth is the tell: this is a family town, full of new neighborhoods, ballfields, and trailheads.
Waukee is generally considered a safe, low-crime suburb, which is a big reason it ranks so well. That said, every town has crime; if you're weighing a specific area, look up current data through the Waukee Police Department and public records for the exact neighborhood you're considering.
The Waukee Community School District is the main draw: highly rated, one of the largest and fastest-growing in Iowa, and unusual in running two comprehensive high schools, Waukee High (the Warriors) and Waukee Northwest (the Wolves), which opened in 2021. Details on boundaries and how the ninth-grade schools work are in our schools guide.
The Des Moines metro sits around the national cost-of-living average, but Waukee runs a touch above the metro because so much of it is new construction. In 2026, listing sites put the median home price in the high $300,000s to around $400,000, with Zillow's average value closer to the mid $300,000s. The full picture, including cost of living and Dallas County property taxes, has its own guides.
You have (or want) kids, you're a first-time buyer after a newer home, or you value schools, safety, parks and trails, and space over big-city buzz.
You want a walkable, urban, nightlife-heavy feel or a historic established neighborhood. Waukee is suburban and car-dependent, and the fast growth means real traffic and near-constant construction. (The Kettlestone district is the closest thing to a walkable, mixed-use core.)
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For most people, especially families, yes. Waukee is one of the fastest-growing cities in Iowa and the largest in Dallas County, and it ranks well on Niche's 2026 lists, near the top for best suburbs and best public schools in the state. It is known for a highly rated school district, low crime, lots of new-construction housing and parks, and an easy run into the Des Moines metro. The main trade-offs are the fast growth, meaning traffic and constant construction, and a car-dependent, spread-out suburban feel.
Waukee is generally regarded as a safe, low-crime suburb, which is part of why it ranks well on national best-places-to-live lists. Every community has crime, so if you are weighing a specific neighborhood, check current local data through the Waukee Police Department and public-records resources for the exact area you are considering.
Yes. Waukee is a suburb on the west side of the Des Moines metro, in Dallas County, about 17 miles and a 20 to 25 minute drive from downtown Des Moines via Interstate 80. Its 2024 Special Census counted 31,823 residents, up from 23,940 in 2020, making it one of the fastest-growing cities in Iowa.
The Waukee Community School District is one of the largest and fastest-growing in Iowa and is a major reason families move here. It is unusual in running two comprehensive high schools, Waukee High School (the Warriors) and Waukee Northwest High School (the Wolves), which opened in 2021, plus separate ninth-grade schools. Niche's 2026 rankings place Waukee near the top of the state for public schools.
The Des Moines metro sits around the national cost-of-living average, but Waukee runs a bit above the metro because so much of its housing is new construction. In 2026, national listing sites put the median home sale price roughly in the high $300,000s to around $400,000, with Zillow's average home value closer to the mid $300,000s. Remember Waukee is in Dallas County, so property taxes and assessments run through Dallas County, not Polk.
Waukee is a great fit for families, first-time buyers who want newer homes, and anyone who values schools, safety, parks and trails, and space over big-city density. It is less ideal if you want a walkable, historic, nightlife-heavy neighborhood. Waukee is suburban, car-oriented, and still building out, though the Kettlestone district is designed to be more walkable and mixed-use.
Moving to Waukee · Schools · Cost of living · Neighborhoods · Things to do