Real Estate Investing in Urbandale, Iowa (50322)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Polk County • Population: 31,694 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 50322 (Urbandale, IA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (76/100)

Solid choice — stable market with a reasonable entry point and good rental backup if you ever need to move.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in Urbandale, IA (50322)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $295,379
Avg Monthly Rent $1,106
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $84,948
% Renters 28.1%

Market Analysis: 50322 Urbandale

This part of Polk County is not an easy win. The 50322 ZIP clocks in at softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

Rent of $1,106/mo on a $295K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 50322 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

From a cash-flow lens, 50322 offers a low basis, the region around Urbandale has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Who lives in 50322 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. durable returns are possible in 50322, but they flow to investors who already understand how to operate in soft markets.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Urbandale:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 76/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.5× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,106/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
62 days
Average time to sell
Slow
11.0%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 50322

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
4.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+6.2% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$85,960/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $194,727 $1,330 4.9% +6.2% $97,363
3BR $286,513 $1,810 4.5% +5.9% $95,504
4BR $363,547 $1,860 3.7% +5.9% $90,887
5BR $429,799 +5.9% $85,960

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$309K$275K$241K$207K$173K$139KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,174$1,112$1,051$990$929$868Dec 2021Apr 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 50322 Compare?

Metric 50322 Urbandale Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Iowa
Home Value $295,379 $377,160 N/A $227,232
5-Year CAGR 4.8% 4.0% N/A 6.0%
Avg Rent $1,106 $1,415 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.9% 2.9% - -
💡 Why Invest in 50322? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 50322 (Urbandale, IA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.9%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.8%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $295,379
Monthly Rent $1,106
Price-to-Rent 22.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.5%
Cap Rate 2.9%
5-Year IRR 7.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -2.8% ▼
3-Year CAGR +0.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.9%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
5.0%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.8%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 50322

Population: 31,694

💰 Median Household Income
$84,948
This area
$84,948
State
$71,886
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
28.1%
This area
28.1%
State
19.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.1%
This area
2.1%
State
0.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
41.2%
This area
41.2%
State
18.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
40.1 years
This area
40.1 years
State
40.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
5.0%
This area
5.0%
State
11.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 83.2%
Black/African American 6.2%
Other/Mixed 5.5%
Asian 5.1%
Hispanic/Latino 2.7%
👶 Under 18
21.8%
This area
21.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
16.7%
This area
16.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.1%
This area
5.1%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 50322

A Avg School Grade
5 Schools
13.4:1 Avg Class Size
$18,269 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Olmsted Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
641 Students
👨‍🏫
13.4:1 Class Size
💰
$18,269 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Valerius Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
577 Students
👨‍🏫
12.4:1 Class Size
💰
$18,269 Per Student
A Very Good

Karen Acres Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
244 Students
👨‍🏫
12.2:1 Class Size
💰
$18,269 Per Student
A Very Good

Urbandale High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,311 Students
👨‍🏫
14.1:1 Class Size
💰
$18,269 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Urbandale Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
869 Students
👨‍🏫
15.2:1 Class Size
💰
$18,269 Per Student

Nearby Schools (2 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Clive Learning Academy

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
📍 1600 73rd Street, Des Moines
👥
512 Students
👨‍🏫
11.8:1 Class Size
💰
$17,877 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Cowles Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
📍 6401 College Ave, Des Moines
👥
403 Students
👨‍🏫
17.6:1 Class Size
💰
$16,255 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

8 Nearby
C
Body Wisdom Massage Therapy School
36 students · 0.3 mi
C
Iowa School of Beauty-Des Moines
74 students · 1.4 mi
D
La James International College-Johnston
113 students · 1.9 mi
C+
Drake University
4,504 students · 4.9 mi
C+
Aveda Institute-Des Moines
179 students · 6.0 mi
D
UnityPoint Health-Des Moines School of Radiologic Technology
16 students · 6.0 mi
D
Mercy College of Health Sciences
907 students · 6.3 mi
C
Grand View University
1,796 students · 7.0 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

Should investors consider Urbandale, IA?

Urbandale, IA rates 3.0/5 for investability. With median values at $295K and rents near $1,106/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.

Do landlords face vacancy issues in Urbandale, IA?

Urbandale, IA carries elevated vacancy risk. Expect measured absorption at market rents of $1,106/mo.

How strong are rents in Urbandale, IA?

Average rent in Urbandale, IA is approximately $1,106/mo per month. Against $295K home values that yields a reasonable rent-to-price ratio.

What is the tenant pool like in Urbandale, IA?

The renter base in Urbandale, IA is reasonable for the $1,106/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields reliable tenants.

What is it like being a landlord in Urbandale, IA?

Urbandale, IA falls under IA landlord-tenant law, which is landlord-friendly. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.

You know 50322 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 50322 ranks in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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