Real Estate Investing in Urbandale, Iowa (50323)

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

Polk County • Population: 17,065 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 50323 (Urbandale, IA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (77/100)

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 (50323)?

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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 $458,941
Avg Monthly Rent $1,723
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $168,329
% Renters 9.6%

Market Analysis: 50323 Urbandale

This part of Polk County is not an easy win. The 50323 ZIP clocks in at softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 50323 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

In the broader IA picture, 50323 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.

The 50323 ZIP's population of 17,065 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that posts the need for careful underwriting.

The right play in 50323 usually involves deep tenant screening, aggressive delinquency response, and a conservative capex buffer. Anything less, and the discount can turn into a trap.

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: 74/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.7× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+0.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,723/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 50323

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
4.8% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+5.4% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$119,352/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $241,992 $1,620 4.8% +3.1% $120,996
3BR $358,057 $2,210 4.4% +4.6% $119,352
4BR $477,949 $2,260 3.4% +5.2% $119,487
5BR $624,064 +5.4% $124,813

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$477K$432K$387K$343K$298K$253KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,783$1,665$1,547$1,428$1,310$1,192Mar 2025Nov 2025Jun 2026

📊 How Does 50323 Compare?

Metric 50323 Urbandale Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Iowa
Home Value $458,941 $377,160 N/A $227,232
5-Year CAGR 3.3% 4.0% N/A 6.0%
Avg Rent $1,723 $1,415 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.9% 2.9% - -
💡 Why Invest in 50323? 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 →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 50323 (Urbandale, IA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.9%
Low
5yr Growth
+3.3%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $458,941
Monthly Rent $1,723
Price-to-Rent 22.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.5%
Cap Rate 2.9%
5-Year IRR 6.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +0.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +0.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.3% ▲
10-Year CAGR +3.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +9.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR N/A
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
3.4%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.3%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 50323

Population: 17,065

💰 Median Household Income
$168,329
This area
$168,329
State
$71,886
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
9.6%
This area
9.6%
State
19.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.4%
This area
0.4%
State
0.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
70.3%
This area
70.3%
State
18.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
36.8 years
This area
36.8 years
State
40.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
3.4%
This area
3.4%
State
11.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 90.6%
Asian 5.0%
Other/Mixed 3.3%
Hispanic/Latino 2.7%
Black/African American 1.2%
👶 Under 18
33.5%
This area
33.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
8.6%
This area
8.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
2.5%
This area
2.5%
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 50323

A Avg School Grade
3 Schools
15.8:1 Avg Class Size
$18,216 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Radiant Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
789 Students
👨‍🏫
16.1:1 Class Size
💰
$18,190 Per Student
A Very Good

Walnut Hills Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
590 Students
👨‍🏫
16.0:1 Class Size
💰
$18,190 Per Student
A Very Good

Webster Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
546 Students
👨‍🏫
15.4:1 Class Size
💰
$18,269 Per Student

Nearby Schools (3 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Crestview School of Inquiry

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
📍 8355 Franklin Avenue, Clive
👥
549 Students
👨‍🏫
11.0:1 Class Size
💰
$17,877 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Indian Hills Junior High School

📚 07 – 08 Middle
📍 9401 Indian Hills Dr, Clive
👥
653 Students
👨‍🏫
11.8:1 Class Size
💰
$17,877 Per Student
A Very Good

Shuler Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 16400 Douglas Parkway, Clive
👥
640 Students
👨‍🏫
15.5:1 Class Size
💰
$18,190 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
D
La James International College-Johnston
113 students · 4.4 mi
C
Body Wisdom Massage Therapy School
36 students · 4.4 mi
C+
Aveda Institute-Des Moines
179 students · 5.3 mi
C
Iowa School of Beauty-Des Moines
74 students · 5.6 mi
C
Des Moines University-Osteopathic Medical Center
1,521 students · 6.8 mi
C+
Drake University
4,504 students · 9.0 mi
D
UnityPoint Health-Des Moines School of Radiologic Technology
16 students · 10.1 mi
D
Mercy College of Health Sciences
907 students · 10.4 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

What price range are homes in Urbandale, IA?

Expect median prices around $459K in Urbandale, IA. The market has run at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, so entry costs have been even-keeled.

How deep is the rental pool in Urbandale, IA?

Tenant quality in Urbandale, IA ranks as solid. Landlords generally report steady occupancy at market rents of $1,723/mo.

Can I live-in-and-rent in Urbandale, IA?

House hacking in Urbandale, IA is reasonable to execute. Prices around $459K and rents of $1,723/mo solid owner-occupant economics.

How landlord-friendly is Urbandale, IA?

For rental operators, Urbandale, IA rates as landlord-friendly. The regulatory environment standard buy-and-hold operations.

How much rent can I charge in Urbandale, IA?

Investors in Urbandale, IA typically see rents near $1,723/mo per month against $459K home values - a solid setup for rental cash flow.

You know 50323 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 50323 ranks in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
🤖

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