2023 Best Places to Live in Dallas County

• Suburb of Des Moines, IA

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  Rating 3.93 out of 5  43 reviews

Current Resident: Although Clive is a small suburb of the larger city of Des Moines, it has lots to offer. Campbell park offers slow pitch softball and a little music festival every Friday night of the summer with food trucks, live music, and sand volleyball. Clive also provides lots of beautiful trails like the greenbelt trail that extends through Clive, that reach from the Country Club neighborhood to the Clive tool, to the other side. Along the trail you could see multiple parks, the Country Club Lake, and the Clive goats. The Neighborhoods in Clive are very nice, clean, and safe. Clive is kept up by the Clive grounds crew that keep the parks and streets clean of trash, they spray all streets and neighborhoods at night for bugs, and they plow the streets of snow in the winter. They also take care of the softball fields at Campbell park and mow the large fields. I have lived in a different suburb of Des Moines called West Des Moines and it couldn't compare to living in Clive. I wouldn’t want to move.... Read 43 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Population 18,323

• Suburb of Des Moines, IA

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  Rating 4.36 out of 5  53 reviews

Current Resident: I have lived in Waukee, Iowa for four years now! It is truly one of the best neighborhoods in this world! Everyone around here are good friends no matter if you are poor, different race, go to a private school, are part of a different religion, and more! There is a reason why Waukee's growth rate has increased by 74% since 2010! People love it here and there are so many opportunities everywhere! Waukee is the fastest growing city in the entire state of Iowa! You feel safe and protected where ever you are. Whether that be at school, at the park, at home, or maybe just hanging out with some friends! Waukee is a suburb of Iowa's capital, Des Moines. It's about a 20 minute drive to Des Moines which makes the commute time pretty good! There are some many things you can do in Waukee! I love Waukee and will continue to for as long as I live here!... Read 53 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Population 23,441

• Town in Iowa

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  Rating 3.8 out of 5  10 reviews

Current Resident: Adel is a small town but has started to grow rapidly in recent years. Every one is extremely friendly and if your car breaks down, some one is always willing to stop and help you. It's a great community and the pride people have for the school is awesome. I have lived here my whole life and would love to raise a family here some day. Everyone is so connected.... Read 10 reviews

• grade B+

• grade B

• Population 5,867

• Town in Iowa

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  Rating 3.44 out of 5  9 reviews

Niche User: Living in Perry has been a very positive experience. The diversity in this town provides learning experiences that exceeded the classroom. Food, cultures,and languages from around the world are shared within the community. I would love to plan my future in Perry.... Read 9 reviews

• grade B minus

• grade C

• Population 7,836

• Suburb of Des Moines, IA

• grade A+

• grade A

• Population 30,424

• Suburb of Des Moines, IA

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  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Niche User: As a traveling soul I have been to many states, countries, and even on a different continent. Home is where the heart is, as a popular saying goes, and my heart was homegrown, here, in Iowa. I love getting to know people I come in contact with on my trips, but I am so grateful I get to come home to an incredible community that cares about what is going on with each other's lives. Iowa has, by far, the most beautiful skies I have been under. Among the grain belt states, Iowa has always stood out to me, even when I've visited beautiful states, such as Colorado, Ohio, Illinois, and many others.... Read 1 review

• grade A+

• grade A

• Population 34,459

• Town in Iowa

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  Rating 4 out of 5  2 reviews

Niche User: It is a great place to live because there is such a welcoming community. You can live in the country and still be very close to the nearest town. This is a place where morals and personal values are still held to be very important. The atmosphere is always pleasant in this small town of Iowa. People wave and smile at one another on the road and are generally thoughtful drivers. I believe it is best to grow up in a place like this because it helps you grow without a ton of influence from the craziness of the outside world. It is calm and quiet and allows for personal advancement, unlike a big city such as New York would allow. I would always choose to live here above a big area or city. Although I do love to travel, this will always be my home. I believe in the future kids will continue to benefit from the opportunities of this location through small schools with strong academics, sports, and the quiet tone of a loving town they will always have in their heart.... Read 2 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A minus

• Population 8,216

• Town in Iowa

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  Rating 4.33 out of 5  3 reviews

Niche User: I would choose to live here again if I could do it all over again. I love the quiet and the country, maybe just because its where I lived all my life but I love it.... Read 3 reviews

• grade B+

• grade A minus

• Population 4,313

• Town in Iowa

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  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Nearby Resident: Very small and unique town! Couple of very good small businesses and restaurants throughout the town. It has a very good location- only about 25 minutes from Downtown Des Moines. One of the best school districts in Iowa. Housing is close to the center of town and always expanding!... Read 1 review

• grade B+

• grade A

• Population 1,528

• Town in Iowa

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  Rating 4 out of 5  1 review

Current Resident: The park is great. Needs more stores. Fun little town. sidewalks could be improved. Low traffic. Very friendly people. Fun ice cream shop in the middle of town.... Read 1 review

• grade B+

• grade A

• Population 1,741

• Town in Iowa

• grade B+

• grade B

• Population 1,538

• Suburb of Des Moines, IA

• grade B+

• grade A

• Population 2,185

• Town in Iowa

• grade B+

• grade A minus

• Population 1,065

• Town in Iowa

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  Rating 4 out of 5  1 review

Current Resident: I have lived in Granger for most of my life. Granger is a really small town with not a lot to do but I usually go downtown Des Moines, which is only 30 minutes away, if I want to do something. I like living here because my neighbors are friendly and Granger is a very safe place to live.... Read 1 review

• grade B+

• grade A minus

• Population 1,973

• Town in Iowa

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  Rating 3.29 out of 5  7 reviews

Niche User: Crime is very little in Woodward Iowa. I feel extremely safe in the community I live in. The only concern I have is the Woodward Academy. The Woodward Academy is a school for boys and girls, and it is their last resort before jail. I live close to it and kids have escaped from there but its never been a huge problem here.... Read 7 reviews

• grade B+

• grade A minus

• Population 1,638

• Town in Iowa

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  Rating 3 out of 5  1 review

• grade B

• grade B

• Population 1,037

• Town in Iowa

• grade B

• grade B minus

• Population 682

• Town in Iowa

• grade B

• grade B minus

• Population 1,911

• Town in Iowa

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  Rating 4 out of 5  1 review

Current Resident: I love the town of Woodward. Very nice people, very supportive when it comes to school events or any town events that's happening. The town has a little bit of everything including The High Trestle Trail / Bridge located between the towns of Madrid and Woodward, IA. I have lived in Woodward my whole life and I have made lots of friends and am pretty close to the community.... Read 1 review

• grade B

• grade A minus

• Population 1,156

• Town in Iowa

• grade B minus

• grade C+

• Population 143

• Town in Iowa

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  Rating 4.75 out of 5  4 reviews

Niche User: The area is absolutely wonderful!... Read 4 reviews

• grade B minus

• grade C

• Population 8,497

• Town in Iowa

• grade B minus

• grade B

• Population 400

• Town in Iowa

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  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Current Resident: Dexter is a very small and friendly town! Everybody knows everybody and people aren't afraid to say hello when you are walking down the street! West Central Valley Elementary School is located in Dexter and is one of the nicer buildings within the four towns! Dexter is a growing town with lots of opportunities awaiting for it in the future.... Read 1 review

• grade B minus

• grade B minus

• Population 547

• Town in Iowa

• grade C+

• grade B

• Population 345

• Town in Iowa

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  Rating 1 out of 5  1 review

• grade C+

• grade C

• Population 145