Urbandale, IA
Census place 1979950 · pop 46,595
Home of Living History Farms, an open-air museum recreating 300 years of Midwestern agriculture.
Source ↗Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities
1.66% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median $214,900 · worse than most cities
$335,500 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median 36.5% · better than most cities
34.6% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median 14.6% · better than most cities
11.4% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 0.43 · better than most cities
Gini 0.41 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median 90.0% · better than most cities
94.3% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities
73/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities
+7.3% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median 152/100k · better than most cities
89 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 26.5% · better than most cities
20.6% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities
3.1% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 12.1% · better than most cities
6.8% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median 17.4% · better than most cities
15.1% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 964/100k · better than most cities
649 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities
19 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median 67.2% · better than most cities
78.1% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities
$1,298/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).
U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities
51.2% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median $67,857 · better than most cities
$112,795 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities
5.4% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
Not measured for Urbandale: Air, Bad air. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.
Frequently asked
- Is Urbandale, IA a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Urbandale scores 71/100 — a B (Solid) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 20 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is uninsured adults and its weakest is property-tax burden. Iowa overall ranks #11 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- How safe is Urbandale, IA?
- Urbandale reports 89 violent crimes per 100k and 649 property crimes per 100k — better than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
- Is Urbandale, IA expensive to live in?
- Urbandale has a median home value of $335,500 and typical rent around $1,298/mo — pricier than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Urbandale, IA?
- Its weakest measured area is property-tax burden (1.66%) — 20/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Urbandale, IA best at?
- Its strongest measured area is uninsured adults (5.4%) — 90/100, better than most U.S. cities. Fun fact: Home of Living History Farms, an open-air museum recreating 300 years of Midwestern agriculture.
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.