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Living in
Clive.
About
Life in Clive
Living in Clive means settling into a prosperous, rapidly growing suburb that's part of the greater Des Moines metro—and it shows in everything from your wallet to your weekends. The median household income here sits at $131,082, with a median home value around $401,000, making it solidly affluent without feeling pretentious; you'll find solid, family-oriented neighborhoods where 62% of households are married couples and over a third have kids under 18. The job market is tight in a good way, with unemployment at just 3.7%, and your commute to jobs across the metro averages just 21 minutes thanks to the city's strategic position along I-35, I-80, and I-235—basically the connective tissue between Urbandale, West Des Moines, and Waukee.
Clive at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
7.3%
Foreign-Born
14.2%
Broadband Internet
92.9%
of households
Population Growth
+6.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics14.2% foreign-born, most often from Burma (Myanmar)
Who lives in Clive: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Clive, the largest foreign-born group is from Burma (Myanmar) (11.0%), and 9.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
27.6%
of residents
65 and Older
15.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
37.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
20.5%
of households
Married Couples
63.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.69
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 10% above IA average
Rent, home values, and income in Clive
In Clive, rent runs 10% above the IA average, and home values are 93% above the IA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
40.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
18.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
91.7
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,944
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
75.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1995
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $431,230 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for IA
Unemployment in Clive and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Polk County, which includes Clive, is close to the IA average.
Unemployment rate
Clive: Polk County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Polk County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Clive is about 4% of Polk County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Clive Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area
Commute20.7 min avg
How Clive residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Clive, most residents drive alone to work (60%), and 81% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 8 mi
Des Moines International Airport (DSM)
Small hub1.6M passengers boarded in 2025
- 111 mi
Eppley Airfield (OMA)
Medium hub2.6M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 75% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Clive runs 75% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
81.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
983.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Clive Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 16 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
92.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Polk County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Polk County, which includes Clive, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 16 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $113,200 |
| 2024 | 37 | Thunderstorm Wind | $7.5M |
| 2023 | 10 | Drought | None reported |
| 2022 | 26 | Hail | $75.4M |
| 2021 | 20 | Drought | $30,000 |
| 2020 | 23 | Thunderstorm Wind | $10,000 |
| 2019 | 40 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.3M |
| 2018 | 42 | Hail | $9.2M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Polk County, county-wide
Clive is about 4% of Polk County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality44 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Polk County, which includes Clive, is typically good — 224 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
44
Good Days
224
per year
Moderate Days
139
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Polk County, county-wide
Clive is about 4% of Polk County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate83°F summers, 16°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Clive has warm summers (avg high 83°F) and very cold winters (avg low 16°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
61°/40°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
83°/64°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
33°/16°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
37.3"
Annual Snowfall
38.0"
Hot Days/Year
18
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
135
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
112
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 30°F | 13°F | 1.01" |
| Feb | 35°F | 17°F | 1.25" |
| Mar | 49°F | 29°F | 2.15" |
| Apr | 62°F | 40°F | 4.00" |
| May | 72°F | 52°F | 4.84" |
| Jun | 81°F | 62°F | 5.35" |
| Jul | 85°F | 66°F | 4.27" |
| Aug | 83°F | 64°F | 3.97" |
| Sep | 76°F | 55°F | 3.40" |
| Oct | 63°F | 43°F | 2.51" |
| Nov | 48°F | 30°F | 1.95" |
| Dec | 35°F | 19°F | 1.46" |
Healthcare1 hospital
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Clive
Clive has 1 hospital.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
6.3%
of residents
Clive Behavioral Health
Psychiatric
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
VA Central Iowa Healthcare System
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available · 7.2 mi away · Des Moines
Broadlawns Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.1 mi away · Des Moines
Unitypoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist Medi
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.7 mi away · Des Moines
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education12.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Clive
Clive's student/teacher ratio is 12.7:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 61.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
3
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
61.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Clive (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,543 students · in-state tuition $52,130 · 78% graduate · median earnings $78,855 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,486 students · in-state tuition $36,136 · 61% graduate · median earnings $58,718 (10 yrs after entry)
Mercy College of Health Sciences
9 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 867 students · in-state tuition $18,024 · 67% graduate · median earnings $63,983 (10 yrs after entry)
Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary
12.3 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 405 students · in-state tuition $21,100 · 62% graduate · median earnings $41,000 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreation
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Clive
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Public Libraries in Clive
Clive Public Library
1900 Nw 114th St, Clive
Harbach Public Library
8505 Harbach Blvd, Clive
Cities Near Clive
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Clive?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Clive FAQ
Is Clive, Iowa affordable?⌄
Clive's median rent is $1,073/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $132,121/year. Median home value is $401,100.
Is Clive, Iowa safe?⌄
Clive's violent crime rate was 81 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 984 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Clive, Iowa?⌄
Polk County, which includes Clive, has an unemployment rate of 3.7%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Clive, Iowa?⌄
The cost of living in Clive is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,073/month and median household income is $132,121/year. The median home value is $401,100. About 41% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Clive, Iowa?⌄
The average commute in Clive is 21 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from