Where to Live in
Ankeny

2026 Ankeny Neighborhood Shortlist

Summary Table

The 2026 Vibe Check

Ankeny is currently fighting a war on two fronts. On one side, you have the relentless creep of Johnson Avenue north of Oralabor Road, turning cornfields into instant equity with such speed that the mailboxes are often installed before the sod takes. This is where the money is flowing, but it comes with a 15-minute drive to anywhere that isn't a strip mall. On the other side, you have the Downtown revival around Main Street, which is aggressively trying to shed its "dry town" reputation and become a walkable destination. The gentrification line is currently drawn at State Street: south of it is older, smaller homes ripe for renovation; north of it is the cookie-cutter boom. The tension is palpable. Long-timers are annoyed by the traffic on Ankeny Boulevard, while new money is just happy there's a Target near the new highway interchange. It’s a city of transplants building a community from scratch, and the "local" spots are the ones that were here before the last 10,000 people arrived.

The Shortlist

Northeast Ankeny (The "New Ankeny")

• The Vibe: Master-Planned Sterility
• Rent Check: 11/10 (Highest). Expect $1,450+ for a decent 1BR.
• The Good: You're buying a house that nobody has lived in. The schools (Southeast Polk or Ankeny Centennial zones) are new and massive. Prairie Ridge Park is a concrete palace for kids.
• The Bad: Zero walkability. You will drive for a gallon of milk. The HOA fees are real, and they will cite you for your trash cans being out 15 minutes too early.
• Best For: Families who want square footage and a two-car garage over personality.
• Insider Tip: Drive NE 56th St north of Oralabor. You'll see the future—and the houses are starting to look suspiciously alike.

Downtown Ankeny

• The Vibe: Walkable Revival
• Rent Check: 6/10 (Value). Harder to find rentals, but 1BRs hover around the city average.
• The Good: You can actually walk to a beer. Union Street Brewing is the anchor, and Meadowview Park is the green lung. Proximity to DMACC and the train station is a huge plus for commuters.
• The Bad: Parking is a nightmare on Friday nights. The train horn from the Union Pacific line that cuts through town will wake you up if you're a light sleeper.
• Best For: Young professionals who want to feel like they live in a city, not a cul-de-sac.
• Insider Tip: Park near Main Street and State Street and walk the loop. Grab a coffee at Zanzibar's Coffee Adventures to see if you can handle the "downtown hustle."

Southridge

• The Vibe: Transitional Convenience
• Rent Check: 7/10 (Average). Consistent pricing, solid inventory.
• The Good: You are minutes from I-35 and Saylorville Lake. The schools (Ankeny Community Schools) are established and solid. The Southridge Mall area is getting a facelift, bringing in better dining options.
• The Bad: It's a connecting corridor. Traffic on Ankeny Boulevard is constant. The housing stock is late 80s/early 90s, which means dated layouts and smaller windows.
• Best For: The pragmatic commuter. If you work downtown Des Moines or north to Ames, this is the easiest jump.
• Insider Tip: Look at the streets off SW State Street. The lots are bigger here than in the new builds, and you can find a house with actual trees.

West Park

• The Vibe: Old Money Quiet
• Rent Check: 9/10 (Stable). Slightly lower than average, as it's older stock.
• The Good: This is the original "nice" part of Ankeny. Mature trees, wide streets, and zero through-traffic. It feels settled. You're walking distance to Ankeny High School and Twin Oaks Park.
• The Bad: The houses are showing their age. Expect to update a kitchen or bathroom. It’s sleepy—don't move here if you want nightlife.
• Best For: Established families who want a quiet, safe neighborhood with neighbors who have lived there for 20 years.
• Insider Tip: Cruise SW 16th Street. It’s the backbone of the area and shows the true character of the neighborhood.

Strategic Recommendations

• For Families: Northeast Ankeny is the obvious choice, but don't sleep on West Park. You get the Ankeny High School district (still the gold standard) and a yard that isn't the size of a postage stamp, for significantly less money. The schools in the NE corridor are great, but they are overcrowded.
• For Wall St / Tech: Southridge. You need the highway access. Living in Downtown is charming, but the commute south on I-35 during rush hour is a soul-crusher. Southridge puts you on the on-ramp in 3 minutes.
• The Value Play: Downtown Ankeny. The city is pouring money into the infrastructure here. The train station is a direct line to Des Moines and beyond. Buy a smaller bungalow south of State Street before the commercial development fully catches up. It’s the only place in Ankeny that feels like it has a "center."