The Town FilesWaukee, Iowa
City in Dallas County · population 23,940 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $350,500
- Household income
- $101,029
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 34 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 55
- Median age
- 34.7
Waukee is a city of 23,940 people in Dallas County, Iowa. The median home is worth $350,500, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for young professionals than 98% of Iowa towns, more upscale than 98% of Iowa towns, more vibrant than 97% of Iowa towns.
How Waukee ranks
Percentile among Iowa towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Iowa towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Waukee is worth $350,500, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $101,029, which is more affordable than 3% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $1,383 a month. 66.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Waukee | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $350,500 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $1,383 | $820 |
| Median household income | $101,029 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 66.5% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 2011 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Waukee
| People | Waukee | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.7 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.1% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 27.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 58.0% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.4% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 5.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 14.2% | — |
| Work from home | 22.0% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 19.8 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.8% | 88.5% |
Weather in Waukee
July highs average 85.6°F and January lows 13.8°F. About 36.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 33.6 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 22 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 128 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
55 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Waukee since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 8, 1999 about 4.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 15, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 201 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 19, 2022.
Severe weather in Dallas County since 1996
Dallas County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4784: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 17, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4557: Severe Storms |
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
| March 23, 2019 | Flood | DR-4421: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Dallas County
Dallas County had 55,258 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $76,316 a year. Unemployment was 2.2% in 2023; in Waukee itself the ACS puts it at 3.5%.
Public schools in Waukee
12 public schools with 9,931 students, about 16.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest High School | 10-12 | 1,524 | 21.2 |
| Waukee High School | 10-12 | 1,345 | 17.5 |
| Prairieview School | 8-9 | 1,078 | 17.1 |
| Timberline School | 8-9 | 918 | 14.8 |
| South Middle School | 6-7 | 913 | 14.7 |
| Waukee Elementary School | K-5 | 713 | 15.5 |
| Waukee Middle School | 6-7 | 701 | 11.7 |
| Sugar Creek Elementary School | K-5 | 675 | 16.5 |
| Grant Ragan Elementary School | K-5 | 662 | 14.4 |
| Eason Elementary School | K-5 | 620 | 15.1 |
| Trailridge School | 6-7 | 440 | 48.9 |
| Vince Meyer Early Learning Center | PK-PK | 342 | 22.8 |
Towns near Waukee
- Clive, IA4.6 mi · 18,601 people · home $401,100
- West Des Moines, IA5.9 mi · 68,723 people · home $309,000
- Urbandale, IA6.2 mi · 45,580 people · home $335,500
- Adel, IA6.8 mi · 6,153 people · home $327,900
- Grimes, IA7.3 mi · 15,392 people · home $304,700
- Windsor Heights, IA8.8 mi · 5,252 people · home $267,900
- Johnston, IA10.8 mi · 24,064 people · home $369,100
- Norwalk, IA12.2 mi · 12,799 people · home $303,100
Waukee questions
Is Waukee, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Waukee scores better for retirees than 15% of Iowa towns and quieter than 3%. 11.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.7).
How much does a house cost in Waukee?
The median owner-occupied home in Waukee is valued at $350,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $101,029, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $1,383 a month.
What is the weather like in Waukee?
July highs average 85.6°F and January lows 13.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.5 inches of precipitation a year and 33.6 inches of snow.
Does Waukee get tornadoes?
55 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Waukee since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 8, 1999. The typical Iowa town has had 24.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)