Movers Polk City
Movers in Polk City, Iowa
A City For All Seasons
Local movers serving Polk City — from the historic town square area to the newer lake-and-trail neighborhoods near Big Creek and Saylorville. Hourly pricing, real itemized quotes, same crew start to finish.
Residents
(2024)
Growth
since 2000
Year incorporated
as a city
Homeownership
rate
Small-town feel on the metro’s north edge
Polk City sits on the northern edge of the Des Moines metro, about 25 to 30 minutes from downtown Des Moines via Iowa Highway 415 or Interstate 35. The city had 5,543 residents at the 2020 Census, with the 2024 population estimated around 6,430. That makes it the 65th most populated city in Iowa. Polk City has grown about 174% since the year 2000.
The city was first settled in 1846 and officially incorporated on March 13, 1875. It was named after President James K. Polk, who was in office at the time of its founding. Before Des Moines was chosen as the Polk County seat, Polk City was actually an early contender for that role. The city motto is “A City For All Seasons” — a nod to the lake recreation that anchors the city across spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Polk City is a notably affluent community. The 2023 median household income was around $163,000 — one of the highest of any city in the Des Moines metro. About 89% of housing units are owner-occupied, and roughly 79% of homes are detached single-family construction. The median construction year for homes here is 2004, with active building still going on in newer subdivisions.
The community is served primarily by the North Polk Community School District, whose mascot is the Comets. A very small portion of the city is served by the Ankeny Community School District instead. North Polk West Elementary (at 1400 W Broadway) serves the youngest grades through 3rd; Big Creek Elementary in northeast Polk City handles 4th and 5th; older students attend North Polk Middle and North Polk High School, both located in Alleman about 8.5 miles away.
Midwest Moving Pros serves all of Polk City. We’re a family-owned local moving company based in Des Moines. The crew that loads in Polk City is the crew that unloads at the new place. The price on the quote is the price on the invoice. No brokers, no consolidated shipments.
Two lake systems define Polk City
Polk City’s identity is built around two of the largest recreational water bodies in central Iowa. They’re a big reason families with active outdoor lifestyles move here.
North of Polk City
3,550acres
Big Creek State Park
A 3,550-acre state park centered on the 814-acre Big Creek Lake, originally created as a flood-control diversion from Saylorville in the 1970s. The park has the largest beach in the Iowa state park system, a fishing pier, swimming, an 18-hole disc golf course, hiking and biking trails, and boat rentals from kayaks to pontoon boats. No camping is allowed.
South / east of Polk City
26,000acres
Saylorville Lake
One of Iowa’s largest recreation lakes — 6,000 acres of water plus 20,000 acres of public land. Boating, fishing, camping, biking, beaches, and wildlife viewing. The paved 26-mile Neal Smith Trail starts at Big Creek Lake, runs through Polk City, and winds around Saylorville Lake all the way down to Des Moines.
Two historic anchors
For a city with 6,000 residents, Polk City has a remarkable amount of history within its blocks. Two anchors define the city’s historic character.
Only one in Polk County
The Town Square
Polk City has the only true “town square” in all of Polk County — a historic, walkable one-acre park with a bandstand, surrounded by local restaurants and cafes. The square preserves the original 19th-century plat of the town and is the heart of community events year-round.
NRHP, listed 2004
Big Creek Schoolhouse (1863)
A two-story Greek Revival schoolhouse built in 1863 by master builder John Adam Schall, back when the community was known simply as Big Creek. The building served as a schoolhouse and community center until 1893 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 11, 2004. It now houses the Big Creek Historical Society museum.
Neighborhoods we move across in Polk City
Polk City’s neighborhoods range from the original 1800s town center to newer lake-adjacent subdivisions.
Town Square & Broadway core
The historic downtown around the town square and along Broadway. Older homes from the late 1800s and early 1900s with original construction, narrow stairwells, and walkable blocks. Some of the city’s oldest buildings are still in use along Broadway.
West Broadway / North Polk West school area
The neighborhoods around North Polk West Elementary (at 1400 W Broadway) and the Polk City Community Library. Family-driven established homes from the 1990s and 2000s with mature trees and finished basements.
Northeast Polk City near Big Creek
The neighborhoods on the northeast side closer to Big Creek State Park and the Neal Smith Trail trailhead. Includes streets near Big Creek Elementary. Newer construction with quick access to the lake and the disc golf course.
Tournament Club & golf course area
The neighborhoods surrounding the Tournament Club of Iowa golf course, with its nearly 500-acre layout and water features on more than half the holes. Upscale homes with golf-course access. The Qube Hotel sits on the property.
Active new subdivisions
The newer phases on the city’s edges, where construction is still going up. Wide doorways, open floor plans, attached garages. Newer construction generally loads faster than older homes downtown.
Saylorville-adjacent lake homes
Homes along the western and southern edges of the city closer to Oak Grove Beach and the Saylorville Lake access. Recreation-oriented housing with quick lake access. A common destination for active retirees and outdoor-lifestyle families.
What moves look like in Polk City
A few things about Polk City specifically shape how the work runs.
Lake season affects truck routes
Big Creek State Park draws heavy weekend traffic from late spring through early fall, especially on summer Saturdays when the beach is busy. Saylorville Lake adds another layer of recreation traffic. If your move date falls on a peak summer weekend, expect Highway 415 and the roads near the lake access points to be slower than usual. We plan around it.
Most homes are newer construction
The median construction year for Polk City homes is 2004, and roughly 27% were built between 2010 and 2019. That means most moves here run faster: wide doorways, attached garages that double as staging areas, full basements with modern stair angles. The exception is the original town square area, where older 1800s construction has all the usual tight-space challenges.
North Polk Community School District
The North Polk Comets serve most of Polk City. Younger grades are in Polk City itself (North Polk West Elementary for PK-3, Big Creek Elementary for 4-5), but middle school and high school students attend the central campus in Alleman, about 8.5 miles away. Families moving for the schools should confirm the address is in North Polk and not the small slice that’s served by Ankeny Community Schools instead.
Highway 415 and I-35 access
Iowa Highway 415 is the main north-south spine through Polk City, connecting south to the metro and north to the lake corridor. I-35 is just east of the city for commutes north to Ankeny or south to Des Moines. Most moves into and out of Polk City use one of these two routes, which keeps timing predictable.
Lakefront and acreage homes
Some Polk City properties are on acreages with longer driveways, gravel approaches, or limited turnaround space for a 26-foot truck. If your home is on an acreage or has a tight driveway, mention it during the walkthrough so we can plan the truck approach and the load order.
What a Polk City move costs
Our pricing is the same for Polk City as for the rest of the metro. Hourly rate. No trip charges. No stair surcharges. No surge pricing for weekends or end-of-month dates.
$160/hr
Hourly rate
Crew, truck, fuel, pads, dollies, basic insurance.
+$100
Heavy-item add
Flat charge for items too heavy for standard crew (large safes, pianos).
$50
Local deposit
Holds your move date. Applies to the final invoice.
$300
Long-distance deposit
For cross-country and out-of-state moves.
Most Polk City moves fall between $370 (small apartment) and $1,810 (4-bedroom home). Your written quote after the walkthrough is tighter than this range.
Moving in or out of Polk City?
Itemized written quote within 24 hours. Same crew start to finish. The price on the quote matches the price on the invoice.
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