$221,735Average Value$217Average Price per Sq Ft33Homes For Sale
Merle Hay features several retail and dining options
Retail meets residential in the Merle Hay neighborhood, home to a mall of the same name. In addition to shopping, dining and entertainment options, homebuyers have a mix of housing styles and price ranges to choose from. Major roads run through the neighborhood, making it easy to connect to Downtown Des Moines and neighboring suburbs. The sidewalk-lined streets provide some walkability to nearby commercial spaces.
The central hub of the neighborhood, Merle Hay Mall, has shopping, dining and entertainment.
Residential areas of Merle Hay are just minutes from every amenity imaginable.
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Housing styles and prices in Merle Hay
“It’s got a lot of houses that were built in the 1940s and 1950s,” says Deb Miller, a Realtor with Iowa Realty who sells in the neighborhood. “So there’s a lot of affordable housing in that neighborhood.” There is also some newer construction scattered throughout the neighborhood. The most common housing styles are:
Arts and Crafts houses
Ranch-style homes
Split levels
Bungalows
Cape Cods
If you are looking for a nice starter home near a business district, you can find that in Merle Hay,” says Nikki Hayter, manager at Franklin Avenue Library since 2019 and employee of Des Moines Public Library since 2006. Single-family houses start in the low $100,000s and get up to the high $400,000s, occasionally dipping into the high $600,000s. Merle Hay’s median price for single-family homes is on par with the City of Des Moines’ median price in the low $200,000s, but is lower than Urbandale ’s median price in the high $300,000s.
Merle Hay is a primarily residential neighborhood.
Cape Cods are common in the neighborhood.
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Shopping, dining and entertainment at Merle Hay Mall
Merle Hay Mall sits in the northern portion of the neighborhood and offers several shopping and dining options. It has independent shops, such as Always Uncover, as well as department stores, including Target. Local Eats Food Court, unsurprisingly, features locally owned restaurants, such as Vietnam Cafe and Tamale’s Industry. Chain restaurants in the mall include IHOP and Auntie Anne’s. The mall also has 13 indoor pickleball courts and a Flix Brewhouse movie theater. “They kind of made [the mall] a destination where you can go and do things,” Miller says.
Simon’s is a popular diner in the middle of Merle Hay. “It’s one of those spots where you have to wait outside for a table,” Hayter says. Their American-style dish are served with a complimentary slice of red velvet cake. “Another neighborhood favorite is Donut Hut,” Hayter says. This breakfast spot is only one of the dining options along Douglas Avenue.
Wasabi Chi serves sushi and is one of several restaurants along Douglas Avenue.
Simon's is at the corner of Franklin Avenue and Merle Hay Road.
Vietnam Cafe is a popular spot for authentic Vietnamese foods and a weekly lunch buffet.
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Residents take pride in their homes and in their community.
Events and neighborhood vibe
Merle Hay is a neighborhood between Urbandale and Des Moines. It is a more suburban area that is very family-friendly. Des Moines Parks and Recreation puts on events for the city, including Family Fun Night at Blank Park Zoo. You can complete an obstacle course or play laser tag before visiting the arts and crafts station. There is also live music and food. The Merle Hay Neighborhood Association is one of many in Des Moines that participates in National Night Out. Other popular events are the Des Moines Art Festival and the Iowa State Fair.
Merle Hay students go to Des Moines schools
The Des Moines Independent Community School District serves the neighborhood, and Merle Hay is zoned for Hoover High School. “It’s a beautiful school with a tremendous amount of diversity in its student body,” Hayter says. “I’m a mother of three, and I want my children to interact with kids from other cultures and ethnicities.” Students can transfer to other schools within the district, including magnet schools, through the Within-District Transfer Program. Open Enrollment allows families to enroll their kids in different Iowa school districts.
Hillis Elementary's outdoor space, artwork, and gardens are second-to-none in Des Moines.
Meredith Middle School serves the local community and surrounding areas.
Merle Hay students attend Hoover High School on Aurora Avenue.
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Navigating the neighborhood and Merle Hay Road
U.S. Route 6, known locally as Douglas Avenue, intersects Merle Hay Road and connects with Interstate 35. Most residents drive, but the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority has several bus stops that connect the neighborhood to the city. Des Moines International Airport is nearby in Southwestern Hills and offers direct flights to almost 30 U.S. destinations and international connections.
The Merle Hay Corridor, the stretch of Merle Hay Road between Aurora Avenue and Hickman Road, is prone to more accidents than the surrounding areas. The City of Des Moines is accepting feedback from residents on improving the street’s transportation system. The proposed changes already include expanding the parkway between the sidewalks and streets to create a more comfortable walking environment and improving ADA-compliant crosswalks.
DART offers many bus stops at the neighborhood, including at Merle Hay Mall.
The Merle Hay Road corridor is a vital hub of business for the entire Des Moines area.
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
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Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Merle Hay
US
Homicide
4
4
Sexual Assault
3
4
Assault with Weapon
3
4
Robbery
3
4
Burglary
4
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
4
4
Larceny
4
4
Crime Score
4
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Merle Hay Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Merle Hay, Des Moines sell after 40 days on the market compared to the national average of 55 days. The median sale price for homes in Merle Hay, Des Moines over the last 12 months is $221,250, up 1% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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