Clive depot, 2007
Clive’s story
144 years in pictures
Census counts: 752 in 1960, 18,601 in 2020. The archive holds 3 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 4 maps from 1905 on.
- 1882Clive is settled
CliveIA
A town of 19,861, settled in 1882.
4 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Iowahwyman (talk) (Uploads) · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
19,861
2025 Census estimate · +6.7% since 2020
Typical home
$431K
+1.1% in a year
Household income
$132K
median
Median age
37.4
years
Jobs based here
11,768
Balanced
TownGrade
A−
#49 of 140 in IA
Is Clive a good place to live?
Clive grades A− overall, 49th of 140 graded towns in Iowa, with clear strengths and some subjects that lag. Residents are healthier than 90% of U.S. towns on CDC estimates and the median household earns $132K. It also does better than most on schools: its schools outperform 74% of the state's. Its lowest everyday mark is in cost of living: homes are expensive, about $431K for a typical one and 5 times the Des Moines metro’s $86K median household income. 61% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more in Clive, above both Iowa’s towns (25%) and U.S. towns (29%). Only 17 of Iowa’s 276 towns score higher on the outdoors. The biggest park or preserve is Greenbelt Park, at 282 acres.
What makes Clive stand out
Where Clive beats most towns.
A growing town
Clive has grown 28% since 2010
15,447 counted in 2010 and 18,601 in 2020; an estimated 19,861 in 2025.
Growth hasn’t slowed: 6.7% since 2020, after 20.4% in the decade before.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
How Clive grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Iowa), ordered by how far Clive is from typical.
HealthBroadlawns Medical Center 8.2 miles awayAOpen →Jobs & income11,768 jobs based hereAOpen →SchoolsB+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 11.7 of 20; 4.2% of households have no car; 1.1% of workers walk, bike or ride transitB+Open →Cost of livingCOpen →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 46% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listB−Open →SafetyB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors4 miles of trails; 10% conserved landAOpen →HistoryC−Open →Civic life3 library visits per resident; 3.7 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsC+Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Clive: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Clive, and how to reach them.
PowerMidAmerican Energy11.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterClive Water DepartmentNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet10 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNearest public drop-offMetro Northwest Transfer Station, 3 miOpenStreetMap
SchoolsWest Des Moines Community School DistrictWaukee Community School District2 districts serve Clive; which school depends on your address and gradeNCES
Register to voteOnlineIn Iowa you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections herePolk County AuditorPolk County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2026
ZIP code5032550325 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Clive.
Clive has less tooth loss than most of Iowa and costs more than Urbandale or any other town next door, but it has a long record of flood insurance claims.
HousingCost of living grade C
Clive’s grade for cost of living is a C
Its typical home is the priciest on its borders; Urbandale is next at $350K. The median property tax bill is $5,944, against $2,897 across Iowa, another input to its cost-of-living grade.
The typical Clive home is worth about $431,000, up 1.1% in a year, 82% above the Iowa typical home.
$431KZillow home value
| Clive | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 75% | 70% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,073 a month | $909 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Clive$431K
Iowa$237K
Market temperature
23
days on market
98.4%
sale-to-list price
+1.1%
value change, 1 year
31
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
SchoolsB+
Clive’s grade for schools is a B+
Its public schools are run by the West Des Moines Community School District. Two of its 3 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.
74%of IA districts it outscoresB+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Hills Junior High SchoolLargest public middle schoolGrades 7–8 | Grades 7–8 | 661 | B− |
| Shuler Elementary SchoolTop results in townGrades K–5 | Grades K–5 | 592 | A+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within IA on state tests and graduation
HealthA
Compared with most of Iowa and the rest of the country, fewer of Clive’s adults smoke cigarettes
Its widest gap with Iowa is tooth loss: 4.1% of those 65+ have lost all their teeth, against 11.6% statewide. Against the 4,324 U.S. towns with household incomes like Clive’s, it is healthier than 71%, a smaller edge than it has nationally: part of it comes with its incomes.
10% of Clive adults smoke cigarettes. Clive beats the Iowa average on 22 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 0. 30% of Clive adults sleep under 7 hours.
90%healthier than U.S. townsAHealth Grade
| Clive | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 11% | 13% | 14% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 10% | 15% | 14% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 16% | 17% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 32% | 36% |
32 measures vs. Iowa
22 better10 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | Clive | IA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 4.1% | 11.6% |
| Fewer adults with COPD | 4.7% | 6.9% |
VA Central Iowa Healthcare System
7.4 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
96th
percentile among IA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
OutdoorsA
Clive has set aside 9.9% of its land for conservation
4.4 miles of trail in 16 parks and preserves.
#45for trails in IA
| Clive | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 9.9% | 3.1% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.6 miles per square mile | 0.3 | 0.4 |
9.9%
conserved · 489 of 4,939 acres
4.4 mi
of trails · 0.6 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Greenbelt Park | 0.5 mi | 282 |
| 2. Clive Aquatic Center | 0.5 mi | 15 |
| 3. Cirksena Park | 0.3 mi | 5 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Climate
Four seasons and pleasant summers in Clive
Clive has cold, snowy winters and warm summers. July afternoons reach 85°, January nights drop to 13° and about 37 inches of snow falls in a winter.
37″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter16–34°
Spring39–61°
Summer62–83°
Fall41–63°
Oct 20
typical first frost
Apr 18
typical last frost
+0.5°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A
In Clive, the median household income runs higher than in the typical Iowa or U.S. town
27.8% of workers work from home, against 11.3% across Iowa.
Only 2 of the 140 Iowa towns we compare have a higher median household income than Clive. 7.3% of residents live below the poverty line in Clive. Most working residents leave Clive for work: only 7% work in town.
7%work in town
| Clive | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $132,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 6.6% | 31% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 21 minutes | 19 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 7.3% | 11% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
In Clive7%
Des Moines25%
West Des Moines24%
Urbandale8%
Ankeny4%
6 mi
median commute distance
11,768
jobs based in Clive
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
B+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 69% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B−
Moderate risk in Clive, with inland flooding at the top
67 flood insurance claims have been filed here, and 11 properties have flooded more than once.
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 54% of U.S. communities. Since 1986, 67 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Clive.
46risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesHeat waves
67
paid flood claims since 1986
6
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
SafetyB−
Less crime per resident in Clive than in 50% of U.S. towns
Reported crimes fell from 292 to 210 over the last three FBI years, a drop beyond ordinary year-to-year swings. Violent crime is rare: 16 reported in 2025, 0.8 per 1,000 residents.
Clive’s violent crime rate is 0.8 per 1,000 residents.
50%of U.S. towns report more crimeB−Safety Grade
| Clive | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 0.8 per 1,000 residents | 1.5 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 9.8 per 1,000 residents | 7.2 | 9.9 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Clive0.8
Iowa2.4
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Clive9.8
Iowa12.1
U.S.15.5
50th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
52nd
percentile among IA towns
16
violent crimes reported in 2025
194
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Nearby attractions
All 19 attractions →Casey's Center and 16 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Clive. Close and well known come first.
9 mi Stadium & arenaCasey's Center
10 mi MuseumIowa State Capitol16 mi Theme parkAdventureland
7 mi MuseumDes Moines Art Center
8 mi Stadium & arenaDrake Stadium
11 mi Zoo & aquariumBlank Park ZooSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Casey's Center: Iowahwyman at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Iowa State Capitol: Carol M. Highsmith, Public domain · Des Moines Art Center: Nhandler at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Drake Stadium: U.S. Navy photo by James Woods, Public domain · Blank Park Zoo: Lawrence Lansing, CC BY-SA 4.0
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Clive
19pages on Clive
The big questions
SchoolsB+Beat 74% of IA districts · 3 schoolsSafetyB−0.8 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthABetter than IA on 22 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingC$431K typical home · up 1.1% in a yearWork & commuteA$132K median household income · 11,768 jobs hereNatural hazardsB−FEMA risk higher than 46% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
6 within 15 miles of the center of Clive
Des Moines University-Osteopathic Medical CenterUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · West Des Moines5 miDrake UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Des Moines7.7 mi$52,130 tuitionDes Moines Area Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Ankeny11.8 mi$5,790 in-state tuition
About 4 of every 100 Clive residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Iowa.
Get outside
4 miles of trails in Clive
9.9% of the town is conserved land, across 16 parks and preserves.
Trails © OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
About Clive
City in Iowa, United States
Clive is a city in Dallas and Polk counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 18,601. It is part of the Des Moines metropolitan area. Clive is known for its Greenbelt Park and trail system running through the community. Clive serves as the axis of the western Des Moines suburbs, between Urbandale, Waukee and West Des Moines along the major transportation corridors of I-35, I-80 and I-235. The City of Urbandale is to the north to northwest, the City of West Des Moines is to the southeast to southwest, the City of Waukee in Dallas County is to the west.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1882
- Area
- 7.7 sq mi
- Elevation
- 833 ft
- ZIP code
- 50325
- Area code
- 515
Clive’s neighbors
4 towns share a border with Clive.
WaukeeWindsor HeightsWest Des MoinesUrbandaleClive
How the neighbors grade
| Town | IA rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clive | #49 | A− | C | B− | B+ | A |
| Waukee | #36 | A− | C− | B+ | A | A |
| Windsor Heights | #119 | C− | C | D | D− | A− |
| West Des Moines | #58 | B+ | C | C+ | B+ | A |
| Urbandale | #23 | A | C+ | B+ | A− | A− |
Questions about Clive
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Clive, IA a good place to live?
By most measures, yes. Clive grades A− overall, better than 80% of U.S. towns and #49 of 140 in Iowa. It grades A for health, B− for safety and B+ for schools.
Is Clive, IA expensive?
Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C.