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Highland Park

Highland Park

Suburban Neighborhood in Des Moines, Iowa

Polk County 50313, 50316

Neighborhood Reviews
3.6
$169,842 Average Value
$179 Average Price per Sq Ft
14 Homes For Sale

A trendy residential enclave in Des Moines

Highland Park is an urban residential community in Des Moines that is known for having fun shops and restaurants, affordable homes and is in proximity to schools and the city. Located near Des Moines River and parks, Highland Park offers a quiet, scenic retreat as well as a diverse range of amenities and possibilities to its residents. “Highland Park is considered the new “it” neighborhood; it’s experiencing a boom because of its close location to downtown while still being very affordable,” says Jarod Snover, a local real estate agent at Iowa Realty Mills Crossing. “The neighborhood is walkable with many locally owned establishments, coffee shops and a couple of antique stores. It has that old Main Street feel in a big city.”

6th Avenue divides Highland Park from Oak Park and they share a commercial district.
6th Avenue divides Highland Park from Oak Park and they share a commercial district.
An archway sign over 6th Avenue between Highland Park and Oak Park connects the sister areas.
An archway sign over 6th Avenue between Highland Park and Oak Park connects the sister areas.
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Unique local shops on Euclid Avenue

Some of this neighborhood’s most notable attractions are the shops on the corner of East Euclid Avenue and Sixth Street, featuring colorful murals and historic business fronts. Locals can shop for antiques at Divine Times Vintage, sustainable personal care and homeware at The Collective, or grab a donut at the much-acclaimed Hiland Bakery, which is one of the longest-standing, most successful bakeries in Des Moines. “A really cool part of this neighborhood is it has a microcosm of locally owned shops that are unique to the area and attract a lot of Des Moines residents,” Snover adds. Popular restaurants in the area include Pho All Seasons, which serves authentic Vietnamese dishes such as warm bowls of Pho and banh mi sandwiches, and Mr. Bibbs Restaurant, which is also known as “Home of The Tenderloin Sandwich.” Park Fair Mall is home to Dollar Tree, Fareway Grocery and Walgreens.

Hiland Bakery on 6th Avenue in Highland Park is one of the city's premiere donut destinations.
Hiland Bakery on 6th Avenue in Highland Park is one of the city's premiere donut destinations.
The Park Fair Mall and Shopping Center gives Highland Park residents numerous shopping options
The Park Fair Mall and Shopping Center gives Highland Park residents numerous shopping options
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Historic Craftsman homes in the trending Highland Park neighborhood

“Highland Park has predominantly bungalows and Craftsman homes in an older style,” Snover says. Primarily built in the first half of the 1900s, Highland Park’s properties are comprised of single-story Cape Cods, ranch-styles and bungalows with front porches, as well as some two-story Colonial Revival, Foursquare and Tudor homes. Yard sizes are often around 7,000 square feet and are accented by grassy lawns and century-old trees. Many homes are around 800 to 1,500 square feet and range from $110,000 to $200,000.

Craftsman-style homes are a popular choice throughout the neighborhood of Highland Park.
Craftsman-style homes are a popular choice throughout the neighborhood of Highland Park.
Many of the larger homes in central Highland Park tend toward older classic Prairie designs.
Many of the larger homes in central Highland Park tend toward older classic Prairie designs.
Modest Cottage-style homes are by far the most common offering throughout Highland Park
Modest Cottage-style homes are by far the most common offering throughout Highland Park
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Des Moines Parks and Recreation

Birdland Park offers space for a variety of outdoor activities. Locals can enjoy a relaxing stroll along the river or let children play in the playground. Nearby, Birdland Sports Park has facilities such as tennis and pickleball courts and a soccer mini-pitch system, and Birdland Pool is open in the summer for residents to cool off. Union Park, which is up the hills by Birdland Park, has a splash pool and an additional 51 acres of green space. The Birdland Marina is also available for boating and fishing. The community pocket park, Belle M. Turner Park, features a playground and hand-carved sculptures of local wildlife scattered throughout the park. In addition, residents may head to Midwest Pride Baseball Field and Big Dog Billiards for additional sports entertainment.

Belle M Turner Park has a gorgeous sign to welcome Highland Park families daily.
Belle M Turner Park has a gorgeous sign to welcome Highland Park families daily.
Belle Turner Park sits in the center of Highland Park and offers a sprawling green space.
Belle Turner Park sits in the center of Highland Park and offers a sprawling green space.
Belle M Turner Park has many shaded spots so Highland Park residents can relax.
Belle M Turner Park has many shaded spots so Highland Park residents can relax.
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Events in Des Moines

Notable events in the city include the Iowa State Fair, the World Food and Music Festival and the Des Moines Arts Festival. Many of these celebrations take place in the summer, and feature food and live performances. Music fans may attend the 80/35 Music Festival, and art enthusiasts can also visit the Des Moines Art Center for weekly hands-on creative workshops.

Des Moines Independent Community School District

Madison Elementary School has a C-minus Niche rating and has the Turn Around Arts Program, which is aimed at improving students’ educational outcomes through extracurricular involvement. Students may then continue to Harding Middle School, which has a C-minus Niche rating, and finish secondary education at North High School, which rates a C. Grand View University is a private liberal arts school located just south of the neighborhood.

North High School cares for around 1433 Highland Park students.
North High School cares for around 1433 Highland Park students.
Harding Middle School boasts a student to teacher ratio of 14:1 in Highland Park.
Harding Middle School boasts a student to teacher ratio of 14:1 in Highland Park.
Cattell Elementary in Highland Park works to have all their students be the best they can be.
Cattell Elementary in Highland Park works to have all their students be the best they can be.
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Navigating into greater Des Moines and beyond

While residents can navigate many parts of the community by walking or biking, people still rely on cars for errands or commutes outside the neighborhood. For access to downtown Des Moines, locals can take the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority (DART) and look for area bus stops. The Broadlawns Medical Center is about 3 miles away, and the Des Moines International Airport is 9 miles to the south. For travels by car, Interstate 35 and Interstate 80 lead into Minneapolis and Chicago, respectively.

The DART bus system gives Highland Park residents easy access to the rest of the city.
The DART bus system gives Highland Park residents easy access to the rest of the city.
Highland Park.
Highland Park.
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Christina Xu
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Christina Xu
Wengel Abiy
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Agents Specializing in this Area

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Schools

Source:
GreatSchools: The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process. View GreatSchools Rating Methodology

Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to Darson Grantham, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Parks in this Area

Reviews

Niche Reviews
3.6 11 Reviews
4.0 Niche User
12/30/2014 Niche Review
There are plenty of "mom-and-pop" shops around Des Moines. It's one of the things that gives Des Moines a more "homey" feel than other capital cities.
3.0 Niche User
1/14/2016 Niche Review
Recently there have been a few break-ins and disturbances, and a guy who rides a bike steals stuff out of yards from time to time but other than that it stays quiet.
4.0 Niche User
12/30/2014 Niche Review
There are a wide variety of places to eat around Des Moines. Pizza and burger joints are particularly popular. I try to visit Zombie Burger whenever I come home from college on a break. Their burgers are crazy - in a good way!
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Crime and Safety

1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime Highland Park US
Homicide 4 4
Sexual Assault 4 4
Assault with Weapon 4 4
Robbery 4 4
Burglary 4 4
Motor Vehicle Theft 4 4
Larceny 4 4
Crime Score 4 4

Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com

Demographics and Home Trends

Home Trends

Median Price (12 Mo)
$170,000
Median Single Family Price
$170,000
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$179
Number of Homes for Sale
14
Last 12 months Home Sales
168
Months of Supply
1.00
Median List Price
$175,000
Median Discount From 1st List Price
1%
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
3%

Home Facts

Number of Homes in Neighborhood
3,037
Median Year Built
1925
Avg. Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,003
Significantly below the national average
1,935
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,728
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
6,534

Distribution of Home Values

Source: Public Records

Homes for Sale

Homes for Rent

Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to Darson Grantham, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Average Home Value




Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

This Neighborhood Has More Owners

Demographics

Total Population
9,273
Median Age
36
Population Density
7 ppl/acre
Population under 18
27.3%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
14.6%
On par with the national average
19.1%

Finances

Median Household Income
$50,751
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$55,545

Education and Workforce

High School Graduates
83.7%
College Graduates
10%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
2.6%
Below the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
71.5%

Weather

Annual Precipitation
36''
Average Winter Low Temperature
14°F
Average Summer High Temperature
85°F
Annual Snowfall
45''

Area Factors

Bikeable

Bike Score®

51 / 100

Somewhat Walkable

Walk Score®

63 / 100

Some Transit

Transit Score®

35 / 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score

Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.

Nearby Neighborhoods

Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
NEIGHBORHOOD
Highland Park