Van Meter is a city in Dallas County, Iowa, United States, situated along the Raccoon River. The population was 1,484 at the time of the 2020 census. Van Meter is part of the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area.

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

Town numbers

ZIP code50261

Area codeSign in to add

Living in Van Meter

Housing in Van Meter

$425K▲ 1.1% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Van Meter home is worth about $425,000, up 1.1% in a year, 78% above the Iowa typical home.

A strong seller's market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market35

Sale-to-list99.5%

Sold in May5

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Van Meter

A⁺

Safety Grade A+

Van Meter reports less crime per resident than 97% of the U.S. towns and cities we grade.

Violent crime per 1,000

Van Meter 0.5

Iowa 2.4

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Van Meter 1

Iowa 12

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Van Meter

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Van Meter for work: only 2% work in town. The top destinations are West Des Moines (25%), Des Moines (21%) and Urbandale (9%). Half commute less than 13 miles.

West Des Moines

25%

Des Moines

21%

Urbandale

Waukee

2%Work in townlive and work in Van Meter 13 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 422Jobs based herea commuter town

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Van Meter →

Health in Van Meter

Health Grade A

Healthier than 94% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with Iowa

19better than IA·1worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 12 are too close to call.

Conditions 8▲ 4 close Habits 2▲ 2 close Care 3▲ 1▼ 3 close Mind 2▲ 3 close Everyday needs 4▲ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

6.5%Fewer adults facing food insecurityIA 12% · better 6.7%Fewer older adults who have lost all their teethIA 11.6% · better 73.9%Fewer adults treating high blood pressureIA 77.8% · worse

Care nearby

Madison County Health Care SystemWinterset · 14.1 mi · ER · rural critical access

Primary Health Care - West Side ClinicUrbandale · 13.1 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careNo shortage

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthNo shortage

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

Natural hazards in Van Meter

Low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 39% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🌪️ Tornadoes🌵 Drought

2Does Van Meter flood?paid flood claims since 2025 3Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Van Meter MapVan Meter vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Van Meter →

Climate in Van Meter

Full climate →

Van Meter has cold, snowy winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 85°, a January night drops to 13°, and about 37 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

34° / 16°Winter

61° / 39°Spring

83° / 62°Summer

63° / 41°Fall

How much snow does Van Meter get?About 37 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 20, with the last in spring around Apr 18.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+0.5° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

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

Schools in Van Meter

All Van Meter schools →

A⁺

School Grade A+

The public schools Van Meter’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 98% of Iowa’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.

DistrictVan Meter Comm School DistrictSchools3

Van Meter Elementary School A+Elementary · Grades PK–5 · 578 students Van Meter Middle School A+Middle · Grades 6–8 · 252 students Van Meter High School A+High · Grades 9–12 · 316 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.