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Neighborhood0
Des Moines

Drake

#13 in Best Neighborhoods to Live in Des Moines
  • A
    Overall Grade
  • 25 reviews
A
Overall Niche Grade
How are grades calculated?
  1. Public Schools
    B
  2. Crime & Safety
    NG
  3. Housing
    B-
  4. Nightlife
    A+
  5. Good for Families
    A-
  6. Diversity
    A
  7. Jobs
    B+
  8. Weather
    B-
  9. Cost of Living
    B+
  10. Health & Fitness
    B+
  11. Outdoor Activities
    B-
  12. Commute
    A
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Drake is a neighborhood in Des Moines, Iowa with a population of 15,618. Drake is in Polk County and is one of the best places to live in Iowa. Living in Drake offers residents an urban suburban mix feel and most residents rent their homes. In Drake there are a lot of bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. Many young professionals live in Drake and residents tend to be liberal. The public schools in Drake are above average.
About Drake...
Population
15,618

Real Estate

Median Home Value
$122,329
National
$184,700
Median Rent
$732
National
$949
Area Feel
Urban Suburban Mix
Rent vs. Own
  • Rent
    58%
  • Own
    42%
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Drake Rankings

Niche ranks thousands of neighborhoods based on key statistics from the U.S. Census and and expert insights.

Crime & Safety

Crime & Safety
NG
Based on violent and property crime rates.
Violent Crimes
  • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
National
  • Assault
    —
    282.7
  • Murder
    —
    6.1
  • Rape
    —
    40.7
  • Robbery
    —
    135.5
Property Crimes
  • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
National
  • Burglary
    —
    500.1
  • Theft
    —
    2,042.8
  • Motor Vehicle Theft
    —
    284

Residents

Diversity
A
Based on ethnic and economic diversity.
Median Household Income
$40,050
National
$55,322
Families with Children
25%
Education Levels
National
  • Master's degree or higher
    12%
    12%
  • Bachelor's degree
    24%
    19%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    27%
    29%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    21%
    28%
  • Less than high school diploma
    15%
    13%
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    Drake Reviews

    25 reviews
    All Categories
    Drake is a very diverse neighborhood to live in. It houses Drake University and the surrounding area. It has a "reputation" of being unsafe. There may be some instances of uncomfortability, like homeless men going walking through your property to sift through the recycling for 5 or 10 cent return cans, drunk people walking on the streets at night, and the desperate asking for money outside Walgreens from time to time. This neighborhood is made for apartments and a lot of people live in the large houses in this neighborhood. It's extremely affordable and home owners are in the process of refurbishment - much of which has already been done. I personally enjoy the Drake neighborhood due to it's diversity, affordability, and location. In my opinion, Drake is one of the best places to live if you want to be 5 minutes away from downtown, 1-2 minutes from I-235, and a short walk from all the public events and opportunities that come from the university.
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    Des Moines is a safe, clean, family friendly place to live. The schools are academically challenging. Many colleges are located here and in the suburbs. Employment opportunities exist for all socioeconomic levels. It is a diverse city in that we are accepting of refugees and immigrants. The city offers nightlife as well as arts and cultural events. We have our own Symphony, ballet, choirs. Summertime offers many free festivals downtown as well as ticketed events. we have a nationally recognized state fair. We also are within driving distance of many bigger cities such as Chicago, Minneapolis and Kansas City. I would rank this area 8 out of 10. Good quality of life, but slow paced vs a bigger city.
    I live in the drake area. It's quite for the most part. Great place for families and the fun especially around relays time!