How West Des Moines Home Values Compare Across The Metro

Are you trying to pin down where West Des Moines sits on the metro price ladder? You want clear numbers you can trust, plus plain-language takeaways you can use. In this quick guide, you’ll see how West Des Moines compares to nearby suburbs, what inventory looks like, and how to read different data sources the right way. Let’s dive in.

West Des Moines at a glance

As of Feb 2026, Redfin reports a median sale price of $338,000 in West Des Moines and a median of 77 days on market. That places West Des Moines above the broader metro’s 2025 annual median of $315,000 reported by DMAAR year end 2025, which is about 7 percent higher when you compare those published figures. This tells you West Des Moines tends to trade above the metro-wide middle, reflecting strong amenities and steady buyer demand.

• Source: Redfin, West Des Moines (Feb 2026)
• Metro benchmark: DMAAR year end 2025

How it stacks up to nearby suburbs

Several western suburbs often price near or above West Des Moines. Here are recent snapshots by the same data providers and dates listed in the parentheses:

• Waukee: about $366,500 median sale price (Redfin, Feb 2026). See Waukee data.
• Johnston: about $374,000 (Redfin, Feb 2026). See Johnston data.
• Grimes: about $371,500 (Redfin, Jan 2026). See Grimes data.
• Altoona: about $351,995 (Redfin, Jan 2026). See Altoona data.
• Clive: about $335,000 (Redfin, Feb 2026).
• Urbandale: about $353,000 (Redfin, Feb 2026).
• Ankeny: about $324,000 (Redfin, Jan 2026).
• Des Moines (city): about $216,500 (Redfin, Feb 2026). See Des Moines data.
• Norwalk: typical value (ZHVI) about $326,298 and median list about $316,617 (Zillow, Jan 31, 2026).

A few tempo notes from those same snapshots: West Des Moines shows a median of 77 days on market in Feb 2026, while Johnston shows 121 and Grimes shows 61. Altoona reports 60, and Des Moines city shows 73. Days-on-market can swing by month and product type, so use these as directional markers, not hard lines.

Read the numbers the right way

Different sources measure different things. Redfin’s city pages summarize recent closed-sale medians by month, which makes them useful for checking current contract and closing activity. Zillow’s ZHVI is a smoothed index of typical values rather than a one-month sale median, which helps you track the broader trend line. For a metro baseline, DMAAR’s MLS-based reports provide authoritative annual and monthly counts and medians.

• Example: Redfin shows West Des Moines at $338,000 for Feb 2026. Zillow’s West Des Moines ZHVI shows a different level and a smaller one-year change because it is an index, not a single-month median. You can browse the index on the Zillow West Des Moines value page.
• Best practice: always tag any number with the provider and the date, such as “Redfin, Feb 2026” or “DMAAR year end 2025.”

Inventory, new supply, and your timing

On supply, DMAAR reported 3,976 active metro listings at year end 2025 and 13,916 homes sold in 2025. Using those two DMAAR figures implies an approximate ~3.4 months of supply on an annualized basis, which is a helpful directional indicator rather than an official months-of-supply metric. For buyers, that means you likely have more choices than during the tightest periods of 2021–2022. For sellers, it means accurate pricing and strong presentation matter more now.

New multifamily and mixed-use projects are concentrated in the western suburbs, including West Des Moines and Waukee. CBRE’s 2025 Des Moines multifamily report highlights hundreds of units under construction and in the pipeline, which can add rental options and may ease single-family pressure at some price points through 2026–2027. Examples include West Des Moines projects like Flats at West Glen and activity tied to ongoing retail corridor reinvestment. You can track the Valley West Mall area’s Pavilion Park redevelopment plans at the project site for Pavilion Park and see the broader pipeline in the CBRE multifamily report.

What this means for you

If you are buying

• West Des Moines gives you strong retail and service access with a median sale price that sits above the metro baseline. Expect well-kept, established neighborhoods and a range of home ages.
• If you want larger new-build options or specific lot features, Waukee, Johnston, and Grimes often price slightly higher on monthly medians and can move faster on the most desirable homes. Use neighborhood-level days-on-market and sale-to-list ratios to set your bid strategy.
• If budget is your top concern, Des Moines (city) tends to offer a lower entry point than most suburbs. Balance price with the age of homes, renovation needs, and commute patterns.

If you are selling in West Des Moines

• You still benefit from a price position above the metro median, but buyers now have more choices than during the peak seller years. Proper pricing and market-ready presentation are key.
• Watch your micro-market. Look at the last 6 to 12 months of comparable solds near you, then align list price and timing with current days-on-market. Well-prepared homes meet the market faster and with fewer price reductions.

If you are investing

• Additional multifamily deliveries in West Des Moines and nearby suburbs can expand leasing options and may moderate rent growth for certain single-family rentals. That can be an opportunity if you buy quality assets in submarkets with less direct competition from new apartments.
• For flips or rehabs, track neighborhood-level medians and time-to-sell carefully, then underwrite with conservative hold times in case seasonality stretches days-on-market.

Quick comparison snapshot

The figures below use each provider’s most recent monthly snapshot, which can shift month to month. Treat them as directional rather than permanent rankings.

Note: Redfin figures reflect monthly median closed-sale prices. Zillow’s ZHVI is an index of typical values and is not the same as a one-month sale median.

How to use this for your next move

• Anchor your plan to your target neighborhood or zip, not just the city median. Markets can vary block to block.
• Tag your data with both the provider and the date. That keeps your expectations aligned with current conditions.
• If you are selling, invest in real preparation. Clean, well-staged, and accurately priced homes meet the market faster, especially when buyers have more choices.

Ready to talk strategy for your specific block, price band, or timeline? Connect with Tim & Miranda Lucken for a data-backed plan and on-the-ground guidance that fits your goals.

FAQs

What is the current median sale price in West Des Moines?

• Redfin reports a median sale price of $338,000 and a median of 77 days on market for West Des Moines as of Feb 2026.

How do West Des Moines home values compare to Waukee and Johnston?

• Redfin shows West Des Moines at $338,000 in Feb 2026, while Waukee is about $366,500 and Johnston is about $374,000 for the same month.

What does an approximate 3.4 months of supply mean for timing across the metro?

• Using DMAAR year end 2025 counts, that level suggests a market with more balance than 2021–2022, so buyers have more choice and sellers should price precisely and present well.

Why do Redfin and Zillow show different values for the same city?

• Redfin’s monthly median is based on closed sales for that month, while Zillow’s ZHVI is a smoothed index of typical values, so levels and one-year changes can differ.

Is new construction impacting prices in West Des Moines and nearby suburbs?

• The 2025 CBRE multifamily report shows a strong pipeline in western suburbs, which can add rental options and may ease some single-family competition in 2026–2027.