Best Des Moines Neighborhoods for Young Professionals Who Want Walkability

If walkability matters to you, some parts of Des Moines will fit your lifestyle better than others. Young professionals who want restaurants, coffee shops, trails, entertainment, shorter drives, and a more urban feel will usually want to begin close to Downtown and the central city.

East Village, Downtown, Sherman Hill, Ingersoll-area neighborhoods, and parts of Drake each offer a different relationship to dining, events, commute time, and everyday errands. The point is not to find a universal “best” neighborhood. It is to find the one that fits how you actually want to live.

What Does Walkability Mean in Des Moines?

Des Moines is not a place where every neighborhood offers the same walkable routine. In much of the metro, a car remains practical for groceries, commuting, and daily errands. Central neighborhoods can make more of your week accessible on foot or by bike.

Before comparing an address, define what walkability means to you: walking to restaurants and coffee, getting to work without a long drive, reaching a trail or park, having nightlife nearby, or simply being close to Downtown. That definition narrows the search faster than a generic list ever will.

East Village

Best for: restaurants, entertainment, and an urban lifestyle.

East Village is a natural starting point for people who want dining, shops, events, and Downtown close by. It has a distinctly urban energy, with housing that often leans toward condos, apartments, townhomes, and smaller-scale city living rather than traditional detached homes.

The trade-off is part of the appeal for some people and a deal-breaker for others. Private outdoor space may be limited, parking can take more thought, and activity levels can be higher. If the ability to step out for dinner or an event matters more than a large yard, it deserves a close look.

Downtown Des Moines

Best for: living close to work and city amenities.

Downtown can work well for someone who values commute convenience, restaurants, entertainment, trails, and cultural events. Apartments, condos, and loft-style living are more common than detached single-family homes, which changes both the housing feel and the daily rhythm.

For professionals working centrally, a shorter commute can give back real time during the week. It may not be the right answer for someone looking for quiet residential streets, a larger yard, or distance from events, but it can be an excellent fit when convenience is the priority.

Sherman Hill

Best for: historic character close to Downtown.

Sherman Hill offers a more residential expression of central-city living. Its historic architecture and proximity to Downtown appeal to people who want character and access without living in the most commercial part of the city.

Older homes deserve a practical eye. Maintenance history, mechanical systems, and the scope of past updates can vary property by property. If you are considering buying, pair the neighborhood’s appeal with a careful inspection and a realistic maintenance budget. Our guide to 1920s and 1940s homes in Des Moines explains what to look for.

Ingersoll Area

Best for: restaurants, neighborhood energy, and a central location.

Ingersoll-area neighborhoods are often about a particular kind of walkability: easy access to restaurants, coffee, and neighborhood businesses, with a central Des Moines location that does not feel exactly like Downtown. It can suit people who want a lively daily routine and an established neighborhood feel.

The experience can change street by street. One apartment or home may be an easy walk from Ingersoll Avenue while another, only a few blocks away, feels much more car-dependent. Compare the exact property, not only the neighborhood name. For another view of the area, see which central-city vibe fits you.

Drake Area

Best for: central access and neighborhood variety.

The Drake area offers a broad mix of housing and proximity to central Des Moines. Its connection to Drake University, nearby services, and surrounding neighborhoods can appeal to professionals who want options without choosing a single uniform housing type.

It is an area where block-by-block research matters. Look at the commute, parking, property condition, nearby amenities, and the feel of the specific street. A neighborhood label is useful for finding possibilities, not for making the final decision.

Which Area Fits Your Lifestyle?

If restaurants and nightlife are the draw, begin with East Village, Downtown, and Ingersoll. If historic homes and character matter most, compare Sherman Hill, Ingersoll-area neighborhoods, and parts of Drake. If commute convenience is the priority, put your workplace on the map before you tour anything.

If space, a newer home, or new construction rank above walkability, central Des Moines may not be your best fit. It is worth comparing West Des Moines, Ankeny, Waukee, and Johnston through the lens of your actual commute and home preferences. Use the Des Moines Neighborhood Hub to compare the metro more broadly.

Walkability vs. Suburban Convenience

This is one of the most meaningful trade-offs for someone relocating to the metro. Central neighborhoods can put Downtown, restaurants, established streets, and urban lifestyle options closer to your daily routine. Suburbs can offer newer housing, more new construction, larger lots in some areas, and a different set of commute patterns.

Neither choice is automatically better. It comes down to the balance you want among walkability, home age, space, new construction, commute, and neighborhood character. It is also worth considering where you expect to spend your weekends, whether guests will need convenient parking, and how much maintenance you want a home to require. If you are weighing the major options, compare Des Moines, West Des Moines, Ankeny, and Waukee side by side.

Renting First or Buying Right Away?

Relocating professionals often face a second decision: rent first while learning the area, or buy right away. Renting can provide useful time when you are unfamiliar with the metro, expect your work situation to change, or want to compare neighborhoods in person. Buying can make sense when you know your preferred area, your finances are stable, and you expect to remain here.

There is no prize for deciding faster than your information supports. Read the rent-first-or-buy guide for a fuller comparison of timing, costs, and flexibility.

A Practical Way to Compare Areas

When you are able to visit, give each neighborhood more than one quick drive-through. A weekday morning can tell you something about traffic and the route to work. An early evening can show whether the places you would use feel close enough to become part of your routine. A weekend visit can reveal whether the energy feels right for you.

Make a short list of the places that matter most: the office, a grocery store, your preferred coffee shop, a park or trail, friends, and the places you expect to spend time after work. Then map each from the specific property you are considering. That is a more useful test than deciding based on a neighborhood boundary alone. It also makes it easier to notice small practical details, like lighting, sidewalks, and where guests would park.

Also look at the housing mix with your next one to three years in mind. An apartment close to restaurants may be exactly right now. A condo, townhome, or older home may give you a different balance of space, responsibility, and access. The answer can change as your work, relationships, or plans change, which is normal.

Common Mistakes When Choosing a Walkable Neighborhood

Assuming every property is equally walkable

Walkability can shift within a few blocks. Check the exact route to the places you expect to use most, along with parking, grocery access, and how the area feels at different times of day. A route that works in good weather may feel different during a winter commute, so make room for that reality too.

Choosing only for nightlife

Restaurants and events matter, but so do commute time, noise, housing type, parking, and how the location fits your longer-term plans. Ask yourself whether the neighborhood will still feel like a fit on an ordinary Tuesday, not only on a Saturday night.

Confusing walkability with complete car independence

Even central Des Moines residents often use a vehicle for some errands. The more useful question is how many of your regular activities you can reasonably reach without driving. That distinction lets you value a more connected daily routine without expecting every household need to sit at your doorstep.

Frequently Asked Questions