Movers Clive
Movers in Clive, Iowa
Local movers serving Clive — from the established neighborhoods along the Greenbelt Trail to the high-income subdivisions on the Dallas County side. Hourly pricing, real itemized quotes, same crew start to finish.
“
Distinct
by Nature
Official Clive city motto
Clive sits at the axis of the western metro
Clive is the sort of suburb you can drive across in ten minutes but spend a lifetime exploring. With about 18,601 residents as of the 2020 Census, Clive ranks as the 25th-largest city in Iowa. The population has grown +46% since 2000, but unlike some of the metro’s faster-growing suburbs, Clive’s growth has been more measured and more focused on infill than sprawl. The city is bordered by Urbandale, Waukee, and West Des Moines, sitting at the axis where the western suburbs meet.
Clive started as a railroad town. The community was settled in 1882 along the St. Louis-Des Moines Northern Railway, and the original railroad depot from that era still stands — restored and serving as a city landmark today. The name “Clive” likely came from British General Robert Clive, though some accounts credit a railroad section foreman. The early economy was built on coal mining and railroad operations. Swanson Grocery, built in 1911, still stands as a reminder of the early commercial buildings. The city was officially incorporated on August 18, 1956.
Today, Clive’s identity is anchored by something more recent — the Greenbelt. The 11+ miles of paved trails that run nearly the full length of the city are the most-used park amenity in town, with 75,000 annual visitors. The Greenbelt was designated an Iowa Great Place by the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs in 2019. The Clive Parks & Recreation Department maintains the Greenbelt along with 17 other city parks and the Clive Aquatic Center on NW 114th Street.
Because Clive sits at the seam of several other suburbs — with Urbandale to the north, Waukee to the west, and West Des Moines to the south — the city plays a transitional role in the metro. A lot of moves into or out of Clive cross suburb lines without traveling far. Someone moving from a starter home in West Des Moines to a larger home in Clive may travel only a few miles. Someone moving from Clive to Waukee for the school district may be making an even shorter trip. We do plenty of those short-distance moves and they often run faster than longer-haul cross-metro jobs.
Clive’s median household income is $104,839 — among the highest in the Des Moines metro. The city is small in footprint but has one of the highest population densities in Iowa, with most homes owner-occupied and well-established.
Midwest Moving Pros serves all of Clive. We’re a family-owned local moving company based in Des Moines. The crew that loads in Clive is the crew that unloads at the new place. The lead who quotes the move is the lead on move day. The price on the quote is the price on the invoice. No brokers, no consolidated shipments.

Neighborhoods we move across in Clive
Clive’s small footprint packs in a wide range of neighborhood styles. From mid-century railroad-corridor homes to luxury Country Club estates, here’s how the city breaks down for moving purposes.
The Greenbelt corridor
The neighborhoods that hug the Clive Greenbelt Trail. Mid-century homes from the 1960s-70s mixed with newer infill. Walkable, trail-connected, family-oriented. Greenbelt access is the biggest selling point in this part of the city.
Country Club neighborhood
Between University Avenue and Hickman Road. Luxury homes, larger lots, established trees. One of the most sought-after addresses in Clive. Older construction can mean narrower doorways — we plan for that.
The Woodlands
Luxury neighborhood between University Avenue and Hickman Road, just west of NW 128th Street. Custom builds and estate-style homes, premium finishes. Most moves here are upsizes or relocations into the city from elsewhere.
Aquatic Center area
The neighborhoods around the Clive Aquatic Center on NW 114th Street and Greenbelt Landing. Family-oriented streets with easy walking access to the pool, festival grounds, and city programming.
Dallas County west side
The portion of Clive that sits in Dallas County rather than Polk. Newer construction, wider doorways, attached garages. Some of these homes are in the Waukee Community School District rather than West Des Moines.
Hickman Road corridor apartments
Apartment complexes and townhomes along the Hickman Road and University Avenue corridors. Most moves here are job-driven or rental-to-home transitions. Building-specific parking and elevator coordination is usually part of the plan.
What moves look like in Clive
A few things about Clive specifically shape how the work runs.
Two school districts in one city
Most of Clive sits in the West Des Moines Community School District — not Clive’s own district, since Clive doesn’t have a separate school system. But pockets of the city, especially on the Dallas County side, are in the Waukee Community School District instead. Families moving for schools should confirm the actual district at the new address rather than assume it’s WDMCS by default.
Highway access is the city’s strongest asset
Clive sits at the intersection of I-35, I-80, and I-235 — three major interstates within or directly bordering the city. That highway access is one of the biggest reasons people choose to live here, and it also means moves through Clive are usually predictable on timing. Even an end-of-month Friday move usually loads and routes without major delays.
The Clive Greenbelt is also referred to as the city’s “main street.” A $10.5 million Greenbelt Landing renovation project is underway, expanding the central festival grounds, adding a playground, public art, a renovated community building, and a new wetland.
High-density housing affects loading windows
Clive has one of the highest population densities in Iowa — roughly 2,400 people per square mile. That means apartment complexes and townhome rows along the major corridors often share parking, narrow drives, and tight loading windows. We confirm parking access during the walkthrough for moves at any complex.
Older railroad-era buildings near the depot
The original 1882 railroad depot still stands in Clive and the surrounding older blocks have early-1900s buildings. Homes in these older corridors tend to have tighter doorways, original stairwells, and less garage access than the newer west-side construction. We bring disassembly tools to every move — whatever needs to come apart to get through tight spaces.
Festival weekends affect access
The Clive Festival in July (now a 45-plus-year tradition) draws crowds to the Greenbelt Landing area for live music, the Thunder Over Clive fireworks, food trucks, the Cardboard Boat Regatta at the Aquatic Center, and the Clive Running Festival. The newer Greenbelt Music Festival operates at the Horizon Events Center. If your move date lands on a festival weekend, expect parking restrictions and traffic adjustments in the central corridor — let us know during the walkthrough and we plan around it.
Booking around peak season
The end-of-month Friday cluster applies in Clive like it does everywhere else in the metro. Summer (May through August) is the heaviest move season because families with school-age kids time moves around the school year. The earlier you book, the more flexibility you have on timing. We do take last-minute moves when crew availability allows.
What a Clive move costs
Our pricing is the same for Clive as for the rest of the metro. Hourly rate. No trip charges. No stair surcharges. No surge pricing for end-of-month dates or weekends.
What’s included in your quote
- $160 per hour covers the crew, truck, fuel, pads, dollies, and basic moving insurance.
- Flat $100 add for items too heavy for our standard crew (large gun safes, heavy pianos). The only extra.
- $50 deposit holds your local move date and applies to the final invoice. Long-distance moves use a $300 deposit.
- Most Clive moves fall between $370 (small apartment) and $1,810 (4-bedroom home). The written quote you get after the walkthrough is tighter than this range.
- No hidden charges for stairs, long carries, fuel, or end-of-month dates. The price on the quote is the price on the invoice.
Moving in or out of Clive?
Itemized written quote within 24 hours. Same crew start to finish. The price on the quote matches the price on the invoice.
USDOT 4199938·MC 1620099·Family-owned in Des Moines·4.9 ★ from 71 Google reviews
