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Living in
Waukee.
About
Life in Waukee
The median household income sits at $101,029, which is substantially above national averages, and housing costs reflect that: expect to pay around $328,000 to $337,000 for a median home. Rent hovers around $1,383 monthly. The job market is solid with 2.7 percent unemployment, partly boosted by Apple's $1.38 billion data center investment, though most residents will still commute into Des Moines for work—average commute time is under 20 minutes.
Waukee at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
34.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
7.4%
Foreign-Born
14.2%
Broadband Internet
93.8%
of households
Population Growth
+45.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics14.2% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in Waukee: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Waukee, the largest foreign-born group is from India (22.5%), and 3.1% of residents speak Other Asian/Pacific at home.
Under 18
27.2%
of residents
65 and Older
11.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
38.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
27.9%
of households
Married Couples
51.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.46
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 42% above IA average
Rent, home values, and income in Waukee
In Waukee, rent runs 42% above the IA average, and home values are 69% above the IA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
32.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
12.2%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
91.7
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,475
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
66.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
2011
median year built
Vacant Homes
3.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $344,579 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.6 pts below IA average
Unemployment in Waukee and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Waukee is 0.6 percentage points lower than the IA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Waukee 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
Commute19.8 min avg
How Waukee residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Waukee, most residents drive alone to work (71%), and 83% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 13 mi
Des Moines International Airport (DSM)
Small hub1.6M passengers boarded in 2025
- 106 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 58% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Waukee runs 58% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
138.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
620.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Waukee Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 9 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
60.6 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Dallas County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Dallas County, which includes Waukee, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 9 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 9 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 22 | Thunderstorm Wind | $52,000 |
| 2023 | 10 | Drought | None reported |
| 2022 | 15 | Hail | $10,000 |
| 2021 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 13 | Drought | $30,000 |
| 2019 | 30 | Heavy Rain | $357,000 |
| 2018 | 30 | Hail | $375,000 |
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
Dallas County, county-wide
Air Quality44 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Polk County, IA (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 17 miles from Waukee) 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
Nearest EPA monitor county: Polk County, IA (17 mi away)
Climate83°F summers, 16°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Waukee 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" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Waukee
Uninsured
4.9%
of residents
No hospitals inside Waukee's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Clive Behavioral Health
Psychiatric · 6 mi away · Clive
VA Central Iowa Healthcare System
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available · 12 mi away · Des Moines
Broadlawns Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 12.8 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.
Education16.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Waukee
Waukee's student/teacher ratio is 16.7:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 58.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
12
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
58.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Waukee (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
13.5 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 867 students · in-state tuition $18,024 · 67% graduate · median earnings $63,983 (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 Waukee
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Public Libraries in Waukee
Waukee Public Library
950 S Warrior Ln, Waukee
Cities Near Waukee
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Waukee?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Waukee FAQ
Is Waukee, Iowa affordable?⌄
Waukee's median rent is $1,383/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $101,029/year. Median home value is $350,500.
Is Waukee, Iowa safe?⌄
Waukee's violent crime rate was 139 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 621 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Waukee, Iowa?⌄
Waukee has an unemployment rate of 2.9%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Waukee, Iowa?⌄
The cost of living in Waukee is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,383/month and median household income is $101,029/year. The median home value is $350,500. About 33% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Waukee, Iowa?⌄
The average commute in Waukee is 20 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