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Windsor Heights

Windsor Heights

Suburban Neighborhood in Iowa

Polk County 50324

Neighborhood Reviews
4.7
$283,143 Average Value
$186 Average Price per Sq Ft
4 Homes For Sale

A suburban enclave centrally located by Des Moines

Situated along North Walnut Creek, Windsor Heights is a city just outside of Des Moines that offers quiet, suburban living with single-family brickwork homes. Modern conveniences such as big-box retailers, shopping malls, schools and parks are located near or within the locale. “Windsor Heights is one of the first suburbs in the city that was developed in the 1950s; it was designed like a little micro city with shopping and entertainment on the south side, and houses on the north,” says Jarod Snover, a local agent at Iowa Realty Mills Crossing servicing the greater Des Moines area. “This is a very walkable neighborhood and it’s dead center in the middle of everything in Des Moines.”

Single family homes made with unique brick exterior

Narrow winding roads and treelined streets meander through Windsor Heights. Here, Tudor Revival and ranch homes made with original brickwork, and two-story Colonial Revival properties are situated along the country driveways. Most homes in Windsor Heights fall between 1,000 and 2,000 square feet, with listing prices ranging from $150,000 to about $350,000. “This community has brick ranch-style homes that are very unique to the neighborhood, and you won’t find them anywhere else,” adds Snover.

Des Moines Independent Community School District

Prospective elementary schools include Cowles Montessori School, which is the only public Montessori school in the state, and Windsor Elementary School, each receiving a B and a C-plus Niche rating, respectively. “Another big draw for the neighborhood is Cowles Montessori School; there are families that move to Windsor Heights in the hopes they might get bumped up on the waitlist,” adds Snover. The Montessori education style offers a more hands-on approach to creative learning, and students need to individually apply to Cowles for enrollment. Students may then attend Merrill Middle School, which has a C score, and finish secondary education at the B-rated Roosevelt High School.

Recreational opportunities in Windsor Heights

Colby Park offers a mix of outdoor recreational facilities, such as a playground, a baseball field and tennis courts that are built around the Windsor Heights Community Center. Serving as interactive art vessels, musical instruments are also scattered throughout Colby Park to create an inclusive and joyful environment. The community dog park is across the street by Walnut Creek, and the quiet pocket park, Lions Park, is by the public library which offers a picnic area. Residents can go for jogs or walk along the Des Moines Trail and the Clive Greenbelt Trail, both of which offer scenic pathways for accessing the city and Des Moines. The 18-hole Waveland Golf Course is about 1 mile to the east, while anglers may fish at Des Moines Water Works Park.

Dogs and dog people enjoy the wide-open space of Windsor Heights Dog Park
Dogs and dog people enjoy the wide-open space of Windsor Heights Dog Park
Playground structures at Colby Park entertain families daily in Windsor Heights.
Playground structures at Colby Park entertain families daily in Windsor Heights.
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Shopping and dining around Windsor Heights

Conveniently located on the south end of the city, the area grocery store, Hy-Vee, and retailers such as Sam’s Club and Walmart are available for daily shopping trips and home supply restocks. Head to thoroughfares University Avenue or Hickman Road for local shops, restaurants and coffee houses. Little Brother, which, according to Jarod, is “the best breakfast joint in the Des Moines area,” offers classic brunch favorites such as buttermilk pancakes, biscuits and gravy and corned beef hash. Premier shopping destinations, Valley West Mall and Merle Hay Mall, have department stores, retail shops, restaurants and entertainment venues, all within 3 miles of the city.

The bar at Little Brother offers great people-watching of Windsor Heights residents.
The bar at Little Brother offers great people-watching of Windsor Heights residents.
Little Brother offers upscale American food along University Ave in Windsor Heights.
Little Brother offers upscale American food along University Ave in Windsor Heights.
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Community events at Windsor Heights

In June and July, Windsor Heights Foundation (WHF) hosts “Nights in the Heights,” which is a weekly community social with live music and food trucks for city residents. Additional gatherings, such as the annual 4th of July celebration, the fall festival, movie nights and concert series, also take place at Colby Park or in the city. Notable celebrations in Des Moines include the 11-day Iowa State Fair, the World Food and Music Festival, the Des Moines Arts Festival and the 80/35 Music Festival.

Navigating Windsor Heights and Des Moines

For public transportation, residents can take advantage of the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority (DART) for access to Des Moines and its surrounding areas. Despite its developments, Windsor Heights remains a walkable neighborhood with many shops, stores and restaurants within walking distance. The UnityPoint Clinic at Northwest Des Moines is about 1 mile away, and general hospitals such as the Broadlawns Medical Center are located within 5 miles of the community. The Des Moines International Airport is 8 miles to the south, while Interstate 35 and Interstate 80 are close by for access to Minneapolis and Chicago, respectively.

Collin Cope
Written By
Collin Cope
Drew Davis
Photography Contributed By
Drew Davis
Victoria York
Video By
Victoria York

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 Andrew Bruellman, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Parks in this Area

Transit

Airport

Des Moines International

15 min drive

Bus

63rd St & Sunset Ter, Wht

Bus

73rd St & Walmart Southbound, Wht

Bus

73rd St & Walmart Northbound, Wht

Bus

University Ave & Hy-Vee, Wht

Bus

University Ave & 68th St, Wht

Bus

University Ave & 66th St (Far-Side), Wht

Bus

63rd St & University Ave, Wht

Reviews

Niche Reviews
4.7 10 Reviews
4.0 Current Resident
11/6/2018 Niche Review
It's a safe neighborhood, which I really like. I feel like I can trust most people in the area. The one thing I don't like about it, is there are speeding camera's. The main road going down the town is set up for at 35 mile per hour speed, but the speed limit was set for 25 miles per hour. Is considered a speeding trap by many.
5.0 Niche User
9/20/2016 Niche Review
I feel very safe, there is a police dept close by
5.0 Niche User
5/27/2015 Niche Review
There is a great combination of mom-and-pop versus big companies. You do not have to go far to get what you prefer and/or need. There is such a great opportunity to buy and support local.
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Crime and Safety

1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime Windsor Heights US
Homicide 3 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

Demographics and Home Trends

Home Trends

Median Price (12 Mo)
$259,000
Median Single Family Price
$270,000
Median Townhouse Price
$182,000
Median 2 Bedroom Price
$112,000
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$186
Number of Homes for Sale
4
Last 12 months Home Sales
67
Months of Supply
0.70
Median List Price
$269,900
Median Discount From 1st List Price
2%
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
-3%

Home Facts

Number of Homes in Neighborhood
1,901
Median Year Built
1956
Avg. Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,511
Significantly below the national average
1,935
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,703
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
943
Average Studio Size Sq Ft
1,144
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
11,325

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 Andrew Bruellman, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Average Home Value




Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

This Neighborhood Has More Owners

Demographics

Total Population
5,015
Median Age
41
Population Density
6 ppl/acre
Population under 18
24%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
21.8%
On par with the national average
19.1%

Finances

Median Household Income
$80,164
Above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$94,851

Education and Workforce

High School Graduates
96.4%
Above the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
42.1%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
9.5%
% Population in Labor Force
69.4%

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®

42 / 100

Somewhat Walkable

Walk Score®

56 / 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
Windsor Heights