What are the schools like in Clive, IA?

Clive is served primarily by West Des Moines Comm School District. The district operates 8 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 3 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.5:1.

What is the median household income in Clive?

The median household income in Clive, IA is $124,908 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.8%.

What is the weather like in Clive, IA?

Clive has an average high temperature of 30.9°F in January and 85.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 37.3 inches and annual snowfall averages 36.5 inches.

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

Q: Is Clive, IA affordable or expensive?

Clive's cost of living index is 93, where 100 represents the national average. This means Clive is 7% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $359,300 and the median rent is $1,089 per month.

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

Clive has a violent crime rate of 209.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1166.1 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Clive, IA a Good Place to Live?

Clive is a small city of 18,576 in Iowa, with a median household income of $124,908 and a 2.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is 7% below the national average.

Strengths: Clive 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 Clive is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Clive 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

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

Metric	Clive, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$359,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,089	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	74.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$124,908	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Clive's violent crime rate is 209.2 per 100,000 residents — 45% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

209.2 /100k

Property Crime

1166.1 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Clive is served primarily by West Des Moines Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Clive, IA	National Avg
School District	West Des Moines Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	8	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	3	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	59.5%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	95.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Clive sees average highs of 30.9°F in January and 85.6°F in July, with 37.3 inches of annual precipitation and 36.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Clive, IA
Average High — January	30.9°F
Average High — July	85.6°F
Annual Precipitation	37.3"
Annual Snowfall	36.5"

Demographics

Metric	Clive, IA	National Avg
Population	18,576	—
Median Age	37.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.8%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	20.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	80.4%	59.3%
Black or African American	5.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	6.9%	18.9%
Asian	6.2%	6.3%
Under 18	26.0%	22.2%
65 and over	15.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Urbandale, IA 2 mi Windsor Heights, IA 4 mi West Des Moines, IA 4 mi Grimes, IA 4 mi Waukee, IA 5 mi

ZIP Codes in Clive

Clive, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

50325

Clive vs Other Cities

Clive, IA vs Urbandale, IA Clive, IA vs Windsor Heights, IA Clive, IA vs West Des Moines, IA Clive, IA vs Grimes, IA Clive, IA vs Waukee, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Clive, IA affordable or expensive?

Clive's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average. That makes Clive roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $359,300 and median rent is $1,089/month.

What is the crime rate in Clive, IA?

Clive's violent crime rate is 209.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1166.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Clive?

Public schools in Clive are operated by West Des Moines Comm School District. The district has 8 elementary, 2 middle, and 3 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.5:1. 59.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Clive, IA a good place to live?

Clive, IA has a population of 18,576, a median household income of $124,908, and an unemployment rate of 2.8%. 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 Clive?

Clive averages 30.9°F in January and 85.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 37.3 inches with about 36.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Clive?

Clive, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50325.

What is the population of Clive?

The population of Clive, Iowa is 18,576 with a median age of 37.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Clive?

Key numbers for living in Clive: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $359,300, median household income $124,908, crime index 55 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Clive side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.