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Waveland Woods

Waveland Woods

Suburban Neighborhood in Des Moines, Iowa

Polk County 50311, 50312

$284,395 Average Value
$213 Average Price per Sq Ft
4 Homes For Sale

Secluded suburbia with lots of foliage

Tucked against the greenery and natural charm of Waveland Park, the little community of Waveland Woods offers residents the secluded charm of suburbia while keeping them close to creature comforts and local conveniences. “You’ve got well-maintained homes in an excellent neighborhood surrounded by amenities, like schools, aquatic centers and a theme park to the east,” says Ross Peterson, a lifelong Des Moines local and Realtor at Agency Iowa. All this and a reputation for safety have made Waveland Park very attractive to families and retirees in recent years.

Beautifully restored historic homes

The streets of Waveland Park wind across gentle hills, cooled by the shade of steady thickets of mature trees that reach across sidewalks and driveways. Well-maintained historic and mid-century homes top carefully manicured lawns. “The real appeal is the bedroom community feel and atmosphere,” Peterson says. The most common styles include Tudor Revival, Prairie, Cape Cod and ranch-style, with skillful restorations hiding the fact that many of these buildings are over a century old. Despite this picturesque aesthetic, home prices trend lower than average for Des Moines, starting in the high $100,000s for smaller houses and reaching into the high $300,000s for larger classic homes. Sprawling estates and impeccably restored historic homes occasionally become available, generally falling between the high $600,000s and high $800,000s.

Cape Cod houses are common throughout Waveland Woods
Cape Cod houses are common throughout Waveland Woods
A brick Ranch-style house atop one of Waveland Woods' many hills
A brick Ranch-style house atop one of Waveland Woods' many hills
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Windsor Elementary
Windsor Elementary

Specialty courses at Central Academy

Students can begin their education at Windsor Elementary School, which scores a C-plus with Niche, before heading to Merrill Middle School, which has a C. Older students can enroll at Roosevelt High School, where they’ll have the opportunity to try out highly specialized coursework in subjects including Japanese, aeronautics and marine biology through the Central Academy. “We send more students to Central Academy than anyone else,” says Donna Adcock, executive secretary to Roosevelt High for almost 30 years. “It gives these kids opportunities they’re not going to get anywhere else.”

Waveland Woods is a smaller neighborhood in Windsor Heights, predominantly residential but with access to several amenities via University Avenue
Waveland Woods is a smaller neighborhood in Windsor Heights, predominantly residential but with access to several amenities via University Avenue

Easy access to downtown and the airport

Interstate 235 creates the neighborhood’s southern border and provides a 5-mile route into downtown Des Moines. The Des Moines International Airport is 9 miles southeast via Iowa Highway 28. Those who prefer public transit can use the Des Moines Area Region Transit Authority (DART) for reliable bus transportation throughout the city.

The oldest golf course west of the Mississippi

Waveland Golf Course is an 18-hole golf course in neighboring Waveland Park. Built in 1901, this public course can boast to being the oldest municipal golf course west of the Mississippi. Located on steep hills and flush with copses of trees, Waveland has gained a reputation as a more challenging course, though that hasn’t stopped over 40,000 rounds from being played there annually. The McCollum-Waveland Tennis Complex features a dozen full-sized courts, ideal for tennis or pickleball games.

The McCollum Waveland Tennis Complex features a dozen courts
The McCollum Waveland Tennis Complex features a dozen courts
Waveland Woods borders the Waveland Golf Course, the oldest municipal golf course west of the Mississippi
Waveland Woods borders the Waveland Golf Course, the oldest municipal golf course west of the Mississippi
The McCollum Waveland Tennis Complex features a dozen courts
The McCollum Waveland Tennis Complex features a dozen courts
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Live jazz and steak at Simon's

Located in neighboring Merle Hay, Simon’s offers a classic steakhouse atmosphere with specialty cuts of meat alongside pasta, seafood and an extensive wine list. Live jazz is performed on Wednesday and Friday evenings, but be prepared to wait on busier evenings as they don’t accept reservations for parties smaller than six. Fast food like Burger King and Wendy’s can be found in surrounding neighborhoods, and the Walmart Supercenter is 1.5 miles west in Windsor Heights.

Paris Bahn Mi is a unique little Vietnamese sandwich and coffee shop just a few blocks from the neighborhood
Paris Bahn Mi is a unique little Vietnamese sandwich and coffee shop just a few blocks from the neighborhood
Waveland Woods residents have access to a modern HyVee just down University Avenue for their daily grocery needs
Waveland Woods residents have access to a modern HyVee just down University Avenue for their daily grocery needs
Waveland Woods is just a short drive down University Avenue from several shopping centers, restaurants, and amenities
Waveland Woods is just a short drive down University Avenue from several shopping centers, restaurants, and amenities
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Follow the Peppermint Trail

Held yearly at the Avenues since 2004, Ingersoll Live is a block party that includes live music, dancing, local food and many family-friendly activities. During the winter holidays, the same venue becomes home to the Peppermint Trail, which takes locals on a festive journey through the city with festive entertainment and treats every step of the way.

Phil Keeling
Written By
Phil Keeling
Dylan Stowell
Photography Contributed By
Dylan Stowell
Matt Pangman
Video By
Matt Pangman

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 Jason Rude, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Parks in this Area

Transit

Airport

Des Moines International

14 min drive

Bus

63rd St & University Ave, Dsm

Crime and Safety

1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime Waveland Woods US
Homicide 2 4
Sexual Assault 2 4
Assault with Weapon 2 4
Robbery 2 4
Burglary 3 4
Motor Vehicle Theft 3 4
Larceny 4 4
Crime Score 3 4

Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com

Demographics and Home Trends

Home Trends

Median Price (12 Mo)
$253,000
Median Single Family Price
$256,000
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$213
Number of Homes for Sale
4
Last 12 months Home Sales
16
Months of Supply
3.00
Median List Price
$259,900
Median Discount From 1st List Price
2%
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
6%

Home Facts

Number of Homes in Neighborhood
365
Median Year Built
1949
Avg. Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,368
Significantly below the national average
1,935
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,344
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
9,583

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 Jason Rude, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Average Home Value




Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

This Neighborhood Has More Owners

Demographics

Total Population
849
Median Age
40
Population Density
6 ppl/acre
Population under 18
23.6%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
18.8%
On par with the national average
19.1%

Finances

Median Household Income
$84,789
Above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$105,286

Education and Workforce

High School Graduates
98.7%
Above the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
47%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
10.2%
% Population in Labor Force
67.3%

Weather

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

Area Factors

Somewhat Bikeable

Bike Score®

24 / 100

Car-Dependent

Walk Score®

31 / 100

Some Transit

Transit Score®

30 / 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.

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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
Waveland Woods