Grimes is a city in Polk and Dallas counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 15,392 at the time of the 2020 Census. Grimes is part of the Des Moines-West Des Moines metropolitan area.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Grimes ranks

All →

#3Fastest growing in IA #3Most remote workers in IA #1Rent easiest to afford in IA All IA rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code50111

Area code515

Living in Grimes

Housing in Grimes

$349K▼ 0.9% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Grimes home is worth about $349,000, down 0.9% in a year, 46% above the Iowa typical home.

A seller's market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market82

Sale-to-list98.8%

Sold in May25

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Work & commute in Grimes

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Grimes for work: only 9% work in town. The top destinations are Des Moines (21%), West Des Moines (18%) and Urbandale (10%). Half commute less than 9 miles.

Des Moines

21%

West Des Moines

18%

Urbandale

10%

Johnston

9%Work in townlive and work in Grimes 9 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 7,868Jobs based herebalanced

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Grimes →

Health in Grimes

A⁻

Health Grade A−

Healthier than 83% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with Iowa

17better than IA·4worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 11 are too close to call.

Conditions 9▲ 3 close Habits 2▲ 1▼ 1 close Care 2▲ 3▼ 2 close Mind 2▲ 3 close Everyday needs 2▲ 2 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

4%Fewer adults with heart diseaseIA 6.6% · better 2.1%Fewer adults who have had a strokeIA 3.3% · better 23.8%More binge drinkersIA 20.5% · worse

Care nearby

VA Central Iowa Healthcare SystemDes Moines · 8.2 mi · ER

Primary Health Care - West Side ClinicUrbandale · 6 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careNo shortage

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthNo shortage

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Grimes · CMS · HRSAHealth in Grimes →

Natural hazards in Grimes

Very low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 13% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🌪️ Tornadoes💨 Strong wind

3Does Grimes flood?paid flood claims since 2010 8Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Grimes MapGrimes vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Grimes →

Climate in Grimes

Full climate →

Grimes has cold, snowy winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 85°, a January night drops to 13°, and about 38 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

33° / 16°Winter

60° / 39°Spring

83° / 62°Summer

63° / 41°Fall

How much snow does Grimes get?About 38 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 18, with the last in spring around Apr 19.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+0.6° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Grimes →

Schools in Grimes

All Grimes schools →

School Grade A

The public schools Grimes’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 88% of Iowa’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.

#13Best public schoolsof 139 in IA

DistrictDallas Center-Grimes Comm School DistrictSchools5

Heritage Elementary AElementary · Grades PK–4 · 530 students South Prairie Elementary A-Elementary · Grades K–4 · 436 students North Ridge Elementary A+Elementary · Grades K–4 · 412 students DC-G Oak View AMiddle · Grades 7–8 · 537 students Dallas Center-Grimes High School A-High · Grades 9–12 · 1,073 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within IA. Ratings are from neighbors.