The story of this market
The typical home in ZIP 50261 sells for about $362,233, or $257 per square foot.
Prices are roughly flat from a year ago (-0.95%), a market in balance. Homes take about 184 days to sell, which is slow. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $1,069 a month.
ZIP 50261 — Van Meter
The housing market in 50261 is characterized by high-income demographics and a preference for single-family homes, resulting in a stable but slow-moving inventory. While median prices remain high compared to the broader Des Moines area, the low volume of sales suggests a niche market driven by lifestyle choices rather than speculative investment. The area remains a desirable destination for commuters seeking suburban space.
This ZIP is ideal for high-income families and professionals who work in the Des Moines metro but prefer a quieter, suburban or semi-rural lifestyle with newer housing stock.
Median prices moved down 0.9% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 184 days on market with 11.4 months of supply — a slower-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 0.9% · poverty 1.8% — a stable, low-distress profile.
versus the prior ACS vintage
ZCTA 50261
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 Van Meter Community School District, which is generally well-regarded within the region.
The area is subject to standard Midwestern weather risks, including severe thunderstorms and occasional wind events; flood risk is localized to areas near the Raccoon River.
The area is experiencing suburban expansion from the Des Moines metro, with new residential developments catering to commuters seeking larger lots and higher-income housing.
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 primarily commute via I-80, providing a direct route to the Des Moines employment core, typically taking 20-30 minutes depending on traffic.
The area features access to the Raccoon River for outdoor activities, local parks, and proximity to regional golf courses and shopping centers in nearby West Des Moines.
The rental market is limited in depth due to the prevalence of single-family home ownership, with most rental activity consisting of individual investor-owned properties.
The local economy is heavily influenced by the broader Des Moines metro area, which is a hub for insurance, financial services, and government employment.
The area is car-dependent, relying on the I-80 corridor for regional connectivity; public transit options are minimal.
Ongoing residential development continues to expand the housing footprint, particularly along the edges of the Van Meter city limits.
Parcels are subject to the Van Meter Community School District and local county-level utility and emergency service districts.
Property insurance premiums are influenced by regional exposure to severe weather, including wind and hail damage common in central Iowa.
Data retrieved from census.gov and incomebyzipcode.com
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.
- Spare Time Des Moines4.29 mi
- Sky Zone Trampoline Park4.316 mi
- K1 Speed Des Moines4.316 mi
- Clive Aquatic Center4.512.2 mi
- Get Air Trampoline Park414.5 mi
- Casey's Center4.517.8 mi
- Iowa Events Center4.517.7 mi
- Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden4.718.2 mi
- Principal Park4.617.6 mi
- The Iowa Taproom4.618 mi
- The Palms Theatres & IMAX4.710.3 mi
- Raccoon River Park4.711.7 mi
- Cinemark Century Jordan Creek 20 and XD4.59.1 mi
- Spare Time Des Moines4.29 mi
- Dave & Buster's Des Moines4.19.1 mi
- Iowa State Capitol4.818.6 mi
- Science Center of Iowa4.417.5 mi
- Pappajohn Sculpture Park4.616.9 mi
- Des Moines Art Center4.614.8 mi
- Hoyt Sherman Place4.816.9 mi
- Raccoon River Park4.711.7 mi
- Waukee Triumph Park4.610.9 mi
- Walnut Woods State Park4.610.6 mi
- Paws & Pints4.512.9 mi
- Brown's Woods4.712.4 mi
- Captain Roy's4.618.8 mi
- Golf Galaxy3.811.9 mi
- Willow Creek Golf Course412.1 mi
- The Legacy Golf Club4.512.6 mi
- Sugar Creek Golf Course4.38.7 mi
- Range Restaurant + Cocktail Bar4.212.4 mi
- Jordan Creek Town Center4.59.1 mi
- Fleet Farm4.67.9 mi
- Hy-Vee Grocery Store4.210.6 mi
- Kohl's4.29.1 mi
- T.J. Maxx4.29.2 mi
- Des Moines International Airport4.314.5 mi
Theme parks, venues, golf, airports, museums, water and shopping across the area from Google Maps, ranked by popularity within the radius shown.
Provides local recreational opportunities including fishing and kayaking.
Key-figure check: no independent anchor retained yet — first-researched cycles establish the anchor baseline this pass.