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Merle Hay

NeighborhoodThe kind of area this report covers. Neighborhood areas nest inside each other, from broad districts down to small pockets.IowaBalanced market
Market temperatureA 0 to 100 score comparing this area with every similar area nationwide each month. 0 is the strongest buyer's market, 100 the strongest seller's market.Balanced market · 46
Buyer's marketBalancedSeller's market
$215K
Median sale priceThe middle sale price each month, counting normal open-market sales. The average runs above the median when a few expensive sales pull it up. Bars show how many homes sold.
-6.9%
1-yr changeHow much prices and sales counts changed since the same time last year, using a 3-month average to smooth out noise. Above the dashed line means growth.
224
Sales (12 mo)How many homes sold here in the last 12 months. More sales make the other numbers more reliable.
$214K
Median valueThe middle estimated value of all homes here, not just the ones that recently sold.

Deed records through Jul 2026Counties take time to publish deeds, so the newest months can be incomplete and may shift as more records arrive.

Market Trends

Market temperature (0–100)How the 0 to 100 market score moved over time. It blends price growth, sales pace, how often homes change hands, and seller profits.Temperature
20162018201920202022202320252026
Sale pricesThe middle sale price each month, counting normal open-market sales. The average runs above the median when a few expensive sales pull it up. Bars show how many homes sold.MedianSales
20162018201920202022202320252026
Growth (year over year)How much prices and sales counts changed since the same time last year, using a 3-month average to smooth out noise. Above the dashed line means growth.PriceSales
20162018201920202022202320252026
Price per square footThe middle price per square foot, for sales where the size is known. It adjusts for homes being different sizes.$/ft²
20162018201920202022202320252026
Sale premium vs estimated valueHow sale prices compare with our estimated values at the time of sale. Above the dashed line, homes sold for more than the models expected — a sign of competitive bidding. Below it, buyers paid under model value.Premium
20162018201920202022202320252026
Annual turnover (share of homes sold)The share of all homes here that sold in the trailing 12 months. Higher turnover means a more liquid market where homes trade hands more often.Turnover
20162018201920202022202320252026
Buyer mixWho is buying. Cash means no mortgage was recorded, investor means the buyer looked like an investor, and flip means the home resold within a year.CashInvestorFlip resale
20162018201920202022202320252026
Financing (share of purchase price)For buyers who borrowed: the middle share of the price they financed, and the middle share they paid up front.Loan (LTV)Down payment
20162018201920202022202320252026
Sellers who sold at a gainThe share of sellers each month who sold for more than they originally paid.Sold at gain
20162018201920202022202320252026
Typical hold before sellingThe middle number of years sellers owned their home before selling.Median hold
20162018201920202022202320252026
Median annualized return at resaleThe middle yearly gain sellers earned, spread across the years they owned the home. Only counts homes held at least a year.Annualized gain
20162018201920202022202320252026
Preforeclosure filingsForeclosure notices filed each month. A rise can be an early sign that more owners are struggling. Auction stage counts the filings that reached a scheduled foreclosure auction.FilingsAuction stage
20162017201920202022202320252026

Housing Stock

HomesHow many homes we have records for in this area.3,975
Median value (AVM)The middle estimated value of all homes here, not just the ones that recently sold.$214K
Median sizeThe middle home size here, measured in square feet.1,068 ft²
Median bedroomsThe middle bedroom count for homes here.3
Median year builtThe middle build year for homes here. A recent year means most housing is newer.1950
Single familyThe share of homes here that are single-family houses.93%

Equity & Ownership

Equity rich (LTV ≤ 50%)The share of owners who owe half or less of what their home is worth, meaning they hold a lot of equity.41%
Underwater (LTV ≥ 125%)The share of owners who owe at least 25% more than their home is worth.1.5%
Owner occupiedThe share of homes lived in by their owner rather than rented out or left empty.84%
Company ownedThe share of homes owned by a company or trust instead of a person.14%
Median loan-to-valueThe middle share of home value still owed on loans across all owners here.58%
Typical ownership tenureHow long the typical owner here has held their home.8.1 yrs

CommunityThese are comparison scores, not percentages. 100 equals the national average, so 150 means about 50% above average.

CrimeLocal crime compared with the rest of the country, where 100 is average. It reflects things like population density, income, and how crime gets reported.104
Air pollutionOverall air pollution compared with the rest of the country, where 100 is average. Lower is cleaner.99
EarthquakeEarthquake risk and likely building damage compared with the rest of the country, where 100 is average. Scores can run far above 100.12

Index scale: 100 = US average (tick). Lower is better.

Homes occupiedThe share of homes here that someone lives in. The rest sit empty, including vacation and for-sale homes.96%
Bachelor's or higherThe share of adults 25 and older whose highest degree is a bachelor's degree.24%
Poverty rateThe share of people whose household income falls below the federal poverty line, which varies by family size.8.2%
UnemploymentThe share of men 16 and older who are out of work and actively looking. Only men are counted in this figure.1.0%
PopulationHow many people live in this area.11,105
DensityPeople per square mile. Higher numbers mean a more crowded, urban area.4,795 / mi²
Median household incomeThe middle household income here — half of households earn more, half earn less.$68K
Average household incomeThe average household income. It runs higher than the median when a few high earners pull it up.$76K
Average tempThe average temperature here across a full year.50°F
Annual precipHow much rain and melted snow falls here in a typical year.34 in
SunshineThe share of daylight hours that get direct sun in a typical year, counting cloud cover.59%

Market metrics are derived from recorded arms-length deeds and refreshed nightly. Temperature blends price momentum, sales velocity, turnover and resale outcomes, ranked against all neighborhoods nationally.

How Merle Hay compares

By median home value, Merle Hay is the 19th most expensive of 52 neighborhoods in Polk County, and its typical home is worth more than 30% of all homes in Polk County.

Home values in Merle Hay

Share of homes at each estimated value.

Median
$139K$325K
neighborhoods in Polk County ranked by median home value
#Polk CountyMedian valueHomes
1Linden Heights$822K113
2Salisbury Oaks$511K607
3Greenwood Historic$410K292
4Waterbury$404K1,018
5Sherman Hill$385K332
6Westwood$364K513
7Southwestern Hills$361K1,852
8Ingersoll Park$345K322
9Easter Lake Area$304K2,691
10Brook Run VIllage$304K684
11River Woods$283K816
12Beaverdale$263K4,943
13Waveland Park$263K1,149
14Lower Beaver$252K2,331
15Downtown Des Moines$241K1,281
16Waveland Woods$230K380
17North of Grand$229K858
18Drake$214K2,656
19Merle Hay$214K3,975
20Chautauqua Park$210K124
21Magnolia Park$209K468
22Valley High Manor$208K290
23Pioneer Park$208K1,209
24Woodland Heights$207K621

52 neighborhoods in Polk County are ranked; the most valuable are listed here.

About the Merle Hay market

What is the median home price in Merle Hay, IA?

The median sale price in Merle Hay, IA is $214,667 (data through July 2026), based on deeds recorded with the county. That is down 6.9% from a year earlier.

How many homes sell in Merle Hay, IA each year?

224 homes sold in Merle Hay, IA over the last 12 months (data through July 2026). TopHap counts recorded arm's-length deeds, not listings, so the figure is not affected by which brokerage handled the sale.

Is Merle Hay, IA a buyer's or seller's market?

Merle Hay, IA is currently a balanced market, scoring 46 out of 100 on TopHap's market temperature index (data through July 2026). The score weighs sales velocity and price direction; above 60 favours sellers, below 40 favours buyers.

How many homes are there in Merle Hay, IA?

Merle Hay, IA contains 3,975 residential properties, with a median of 1,068 square feet, 3 bedrooms, built around 1950. The median TopHap Estimate is $214K.

How does Merle Hay, IA compare to the rest of Polk County?

By median home value, Merle Hay, IA is the 19th most expensive of 52 neighborhoods in Polk County. Its typical home is worth more than 30% of all homes in Polk County. Drake ranks just above it and Chautauqua Park just below. The ranking is rebuilt nightly from the county assessor record of every home in each area.

Do people own or rent in Merle Hay, IA?

84% of homes in Merle Hay, IA are owner-occupied. 14% are held by a company rather than an individual.

How much equity do owners in Merle Hay, IA hold?

41% of mortgaged homes in Merle Hay, IA are equity-rich, meaning the loan balance is under half the home's value. 1.5% owe more than the home is worth.

Nearby markets

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