Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Ankeny, IA

    Is Ankeny a good place to live?

    Watch Ankeny

    Ankeny ranks #1 of 19 Iowa cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (79/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population grew 3.1% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $311,300
    +10.5% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,279
    per month
    Household income
    $106,603
    median
    Unemployment
    2.2%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Ankeny

    The median home value in Ankeny is $311,300 and median rent is $1,279 a month, against a median household income of $106,603. Homes cost about 2.9× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Ankeny crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Iowa the 2025 rate was 238 violent and 1,205 property crimes per 100,000 people — #40 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Ankeny, IA

    Ankeny has about 70,542 residents, 2.2% unemployment and 36% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Ankeny with

    Ankeny vs Des MoinesAnkeny vs Cedar RapidsAnkeny vs DavenportAnkeny vs Sioux CityAnkeny vs Iowa CityAnkeny vs West Des MoinesAnkeny vs WaterlooAnkeny vs Ames

    More: Where to move in Iowa · Best counties in Iowa

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report