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201309_BPL_ANKENY
Ankeny, IA
City of Ankeny

Top 50 rank: 37

Population: 46,973

Ankeny is one of the fastest-growing places in Iowa, thanks in part to its low cost of living and enviable 3.4% unemployment rate. In town, big employers include Monsanto and John Deere, while Des Moines jobs are just 10 miles away. Ankeny also offers affordable homes (the median price is below $200,000).

A municipal golf course, 40 parks, and 73 miles of paved trails keep residents entertained. Plus, a new outdoor market and community gathering spot is in the works. --H.L.

Ankeny, IA

Town stats

Ankeny, IA

Town stats

Median family income (per year) $89,479
Job growth % (2010-2012) 5.05%
Median home price (2012) $170,000
Reading test scores (% above/below average) 19.8%
Math test scores (% above/below average) 16.7%
Personal crime incidents (per 1,000) 1
Property crime incidents (per 1,000) 14

Financials

Median family income (per year) $89,479
Family purchasing power (annual, cost-of-living adjusted) $99,124
Sales tax 6.00%
State income tax rate (highest bracket) 8.98%I
State income tax rate (lowest bracket) 0.36%I
Auto insurance premiums (Average price quotes, for the state) $1,394
Job growth % (2010-2012) 5.05%

Financials

Housing

Median home price (2012) $170,000
Average property taxes (2011) $3,488

Housing

Education

Colleges, universities and professional schools (within 30 miles) 10
Reading test scores (% above/below state average) 19.8%
Test scores math (% above/below average) 16.7%
% students attending public/private schools (located within town limits) 96.2/3.8

Education

Quality of life

Air quality index* (% of days AQI ranked as good) 83.3%
Personal crime incidents (per 1,000) 1
Property crime incidents (per 1,000) 14
Median commute time (in minutes) 20.6
% population with commute 45 mins. or longer 5.0%
% population walk or bike to work 2.4%

Quality of life

Leisure and culture

Movie theaters (within 15 miles) 16
Restaurants (within 15 miles) 1,079
Bars (within 15 miles) 218
Public golf courses (within 30 miles) 63
Libraries (within 15 miles) 30
Museums (accredited by AAM; within 30 miles) 4
Ski resorts (within 100 miles) N.A.
Arts funding (Dollars per person of state funds spent on arts) 0.4

Leisure and culture

Weather

Annual rainfall (inches) 34.72
% clear days in the area 55%
High temp in July ° F 85.8°
Low temp in Jan ° F 8.7°

Weather

Meet the neighbors

Median age 32.3
Completed at least some college (% of residents) 76.5%
Married % 62.0%
Divorced % 7.5%
Racial diversity index (100 is national average; higher numbers indicate greater diversity) 20.5

Meet the neighbors