Polk County property record for 421 E Thornton Ave, Des Moines, IA 50315
| Property Type | Single Family Home |
|---|---|
| Details | 2 bd · 1 ba · 850 sqft · built 1953 |
| Lot Size | 0.433 acres (18,881 sqft) |
| Owner | Individual Name on Record |
| Last Sale | $99,500 (Jul 2012) |
| Tax Bill | $2,844 (2024) |
| Flood Zone | Zone X (minimal risk) |
| APN | 010/04590-000-000 |
| Primary APN | 010/04590-000-000 |
|---|---|
| Alternative APN |
|
| Bedrooms | 2 Beds |
|---|---|
| Full Baths | 1 Bath |
| Total Rooms | 4 Rooms |
| Stories | 1 Story |
| Building Area | 850 sqft Living Area |
| Gross Area | 1,275 sqft |
| 1st Floor Area | 850 sqft |
| Basement Area | 425 sqft |
| Year Built | Built 1953 |
|---|---|
| Effective Year Built | Effective 1953 |
| Architectural Style | Bungalow |
| Exterior Material | Brick |
| Construction Type | Frame |
| Foundation Type | Block |
| Roof Type | Hip |
| Roof Material | Asphalt |
| Lot Area | 18,881 sqft (0.433 acres) |
| Lot Dimensions | 239 ft deep x 79 ft wide |
| Garage Area | 352 sqft |
| Parking Spaces | 1 Parking Space |
| Deck Area | 180 sqft |
| Patio Area | 352 sqft |
| Cooling System | Central |
|---|---|
| Heating System | Forced Air with A/C |
| Heating Fuel | Gas |
| Sewer | Connected |
| Water Source | Commercial |
| Street Address | 421 E THORNTON AVE |
|---|---|
| City | DES MOINES |
| State | IA |
| Zip | 50315-2859 |
| Property Category | Residential |
| Property Type | Residential > Single Family > Home |
| Legal Description | LOT 21 SMITHS ACRES PLAT 3 |
| Legal Subdivision | SMITHS ACRES PLAT 3 |
| Legal Lot Number | 21 |
| Jurisdiction | POLK IA |
| Township / Civil Division | DES MOINES |
| Census Block Group | 2 |
| Census Block | 2005 |
| Census Tract | 4300 |
Source: Polk County records, as of August 25, 2026
Owner names and exact recorded amounts shown locked on this page are available instantly with a free trial.
| Owner of Record | Individual Name on Record |
|---|---|
| Mailing Address | 421 E THORNTON AVE, DES MOINES, IA 50315-2859 |
| Occupancy | Owner Occupied |
| Owner Type | Individual |
| Deed Names | Name on Deed |
|---|---|
| Last Sale | Jul 19, 2012 · Amount on Record |
| Deed Sale | Jul 19, 2012 · Amount on Record |
| Prior Sale | Dec 21, 2011 · Amount on Record |
| Deed Document Number | 20122013-00006005 |
| Deed Book / Page | 14357 / 966 |
| Record Updated | Oct 29, 2026 |
Source: Polk County assessment roll, as of October 13, 2025
| Type | Name |
|---|---|
| State | Iowa |
| County | Polk County |
| Municipality | Des Moines City |
| Unified School District | Des Moines Independent Community School District (PK - 12) |
| Year | Tax Bill | Assessed Value | Assessed Market Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $171,700 (+10.77%) Land $45,800 Building $125,900 | $171,700 (+10.77%) Land $45,800 Building $125,900 | |
| 2024 | $2,844.00 (+2.16%) | ||
| 2023 | $155,000 Land $40,800 Building $114,200 | $155,000 Land $40,800 Building $114,200 | |
| 2020 | $2,784.00 |
Assessed value and assessed market value are set for property tax purposes and are not market price estimates.
Source: FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer, effective August 17, 2025 · OpenFEMA NFIP redacted claims and policies, as of September 2026
| FEMA Flood Zone | Zone X minimal risk |
|---|---|
| Flood Insurance Requirement | Not required lenders may require it |
| Community Rating System | Class 5 (25% premium discount) |
| Nearby Flood Policies | 1 in force |
| Nearby Flood Claims | 1 (2010) |
| Claims Outside the SFHA | 1 of 1 |
| Most Recent Claim | Aug 2010 · Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
Values are read at the parcel center point; flood claims are located to the census block group, not this parcel; lenders make the official flood determination.
Source: USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (2nd edition), as of 2024
| Wildfire Risk | Low lower than 96% of the US · lower than 71% of Iowa |
|---|---|
| Wildfire Likelihood | 0.01% annual chance |
| Exposure | Direct burnable vegetation |
Values cover an area roughly 900 ft across, not the parcel itself; insurers use their own ratings.
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System, as of September 2026
| Water System | DES MOINES WATER WORKS serves 246,055 people · EPA ID IA7727031 |
|---|---|
| Water Source | Purchased surface water from CIWW (DMWW) |
| Last State Inspection | May 2024 |
| Lead | Under 1 ppb (2022–2024) action level 15 ppb |
| Water Quality | Treatment failure resolved · May 2017 |
|---|---|
| Treatment and Procedure | None last 10 years |
| Monitoring and Reporting | None last 3 years |
Results are for the whole water system, not water tested at this address; lead at the tap also depends on the building's own pipes.
Source: FCC Broadband Data Collection, based on 461 locations within half a mile, as of December 31, 2025
| Provider | Max Down / Up (Mbps) |
|---|---|
| Metronet Fiber | 5,120 / 5,120 |
| Mediacom Xtream Cable · Fiber in parts of the area | 2,000 / 1,000 |
| Verizon Fixed Wireless | 1,000 / 75 |
| CenturyLink DSL · Fiber in parts of the area | 140 / 20 |
| AT&T Fixed Wireless | 100 / 20 |
May also be available: Google Fiber.
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