The Town FilesUrbandale, Iowa
City in Polk County · population 45,580 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $335,500
- Household income
- $112,795
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 38 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 59
- Median age
- 39.2
Urbandale is a city of 45,580 people in Polk County, Iowa. The median home is worth $335,500, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks more vibrant than 97% of Iowa towns, more upscale than 95% of Iowa towns, better for young professionals than 94% of Iowa towns.
How Urbandale ranks
Percentile among Iowa towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Iowa towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Urbandale is worth $335,500, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $112,795, which is more affordable than 14% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $1,211 a month. 78.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Urbandale | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $335,500 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $1,211 | $820 |
| Median household income | $112,795 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 78.1% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1992 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.1% | — |
Who lives in Urbandale
| People | Urbandale | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.2 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.8% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 51.2% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.8% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 6.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.8% | — |
| Work from home | 17.9% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 18.9 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.3% | 88.5% |
Weather in Urbandale
July highs average 84.7°F and January lows 13.1°F. About 36.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 38.0 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 135 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
59 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Urbandale since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 18, 1974 about 9.8 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 138 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 15, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 314 times; the largest was 3.25 inches on July 9, 2021.
Severe weather in Polk County since 1996
Polk County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4942: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| May 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4784: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| May 14, 2024 | Tornado | DR-4779: Severe Storms And Tornadoes |
| August 17, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4557: Severe Storms |
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Polk County
Polk County had 317,845 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $72,557 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Urbandale itself the ACS puts it at 2.9%.
Public schools in Urbandale
8 public schools with 5,567 students, about 14.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urbandale High School | 9-12 | 1,311 | 14.1 |
| Urbandale Middle School | 6-8 | 869 | 15.2 |
| Radiant Elementary School | K-5 | 789 | 16.4 |
| Olmsted Elementary School | PK-5 | 641 | 13.6 |
| Walnut Hills Elementary School | K-5 | 590 | 16.4 |
| Valerius Elementary School | PK-5 | 577 | 12.5 |
| Webster Elementary School | PK-5 | 546 | 15.6 |
| Karen Acres Elementary School | K-5 | 244 | 12.2 |
Towns near Urbandale
- Clive, IA1.9 mi · 18,601 people · home $401,100
- Grimes, IA3.1 mi · 15,392 people · home $304,700
- Windsor Heights, IA4.1 mi · 5,252 people · home $267,900
- Johnston, IA4.8 mi · 24,064 people · home $369,100
- West Des Moines, IA6.0 mi · 68,723 people · home $309,000
- Waukee, IA6.2 mi · 23,940 people · home $350,500
- Saylorville, IA8.5 mi · 3,584 people · home $314,300
- Des Moines, IA9.8 mi · 214,133 people · home $194,700
Urbandale questions
Is Urbandale, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Urbandale scores better for retirees than 23% of Iowa towns and quieter than 7%. 14.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.2).
How much does a house cost in Urbandale?
The median owner-occupied home in Urbandale is valued at $335,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $112,795, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $1,211 a month.
What is the weather like in Urbandale?
July highs average 84.7°F and January lows 13.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.2 inches of precipitation a year and 38.0 inches of snow.
Does Urbandale get tornadoes?
59 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Urbandale since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 18, 1974. The typical Iowa town has had 24.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)