What are the schools like in Ankeny, IA?

Ankeny is served primarily by Ankeny Comm School District. The district operates 11 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 4 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.5:1.

What is the median household income in Ankeny?

The median household income in Ankeny, IA is $101,151 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.6%.

What is the weather like in Ankeny, IA?

Ankeny has an average high temperature of 29.5°F in January and 85.7°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 37.1 inches and annual snowfall averages 24.7 inches.

Ankeny, IA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Ankeny, IA affordable or expensive?

Ankeny's cost of living index is 93, where 100 represents the national average. This means Ankeny is 7% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $281,700 and the median rent is $1,289 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Ankeny, IA?

Ankeny has a violent crime rate of 165.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1021.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Ankeny, IA a Good Place to Live?

Ankeny is a mid-sized city of 68,392 in Iowa, with a median household income of $101,151 and a 2.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is 7% below the national average.

Strengths: Ankeny stands out for an affordable cost of living, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Ankeny is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Ankeny city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 92.7

Ankeny's overall cost of living index is 92.7, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Ankeny costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.

Metric	Ankeny, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$281,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,289	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	71.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$101,151	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Ankeny's violent crime rate is 165.9 per 100,000 residents — 56% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

165.9 /100k

Property Crime

1021.6 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Ankeny is served primarily by Ankeny Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Ankeny, IA	National Avg
School District	Ankeny Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	11	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	4	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	53.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	98.0%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Ankeny sees average highs of 29.5°F in January and 85.7°F in July, with 37.1 inches of annual precipitation and 24.7 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Ankeny, IA
Average High — January	29.5°F
Average High — July	85.7°F
Annual Precipitation	37.1"
Annual Snowfall	24.7"

Demographics

Metric	Ankeny, IA	National Avg
Population	68,392	—
Median Age	33.3	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	21.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	90.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.7%	18.9%
Asian	3.3%	6.3%
Under 18	27.0%	22.2%
65 and over	11.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Saylorville, IA 4 mi Alleman, IA 6 mi Elkhart, IA 6 mi Johnston, IA 7 mi Polk City, IA 7 mi

ZIP Codes in Ankeny

Ankeny, IA is covered by 2 ZIP codes:

50021 50023

Ankeny vs Other Cities

Ankeny, IA vs Saylorville, IA Ankeny, IA vs Alleman, IA Ankeny, IA vs Elkhart, IA Ankeny, IA vs Johnston, IA Ankeny, IA vs Polk City, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ankeny, IA affordable or expensive?

Ankeny's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average. That makes Ankeny roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $281,700 and median rent is $1,289/month.

What is the crime rate in Ankeny, IA?

Ankeny's violent crime rate is 165.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1021.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Ankeny?

Public schools in Ankeny are operated by Ankeny Comm School District. The district has 11 elementary, 2 middle, and 4 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.5:1. 53.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Ankeny, IA a good place to live?

Ankeny, IA has a population of 68,392, a median household income of $101,151, and an unemployment rate of 2.6%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Ankeny?

Ankeny averages 29.5°F in January and 85.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 37.1 inches with about 24.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Ankeny?

Ankeny, IA is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 50021, 50023.

What is the population of Ankeny?

The population of Ankeny, Iowa is 68,392 with a median age of 33.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Ankeny?

Key numbers for living in Ankeny: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $281,700, median household income $101,151, crime index 46 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Ankeny side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.