Urbandale is home to 46,595 people in Iowa. Since 2000 the city has risen by half, up 17,523 people. Households here earn about 50% more than in Iowa as a whole. Few US cities rank higher on income. 51% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, against 36% nationally. 78% of homes are owner-occupied.
At a glance
Wealthier
median household income $112,795, above the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 39.2
US median: 38.9
More educated
51% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 40%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about Urbandale
What changed most since 1990
Population23,500 → 46,595(+98%)US over the same years: +35%
Homes owned by their occupants71.7% → 78.1%(+6.4 pts)US over the same years: +0.9 pts
Urbandale's population equals 9.3% of Polk County's. Its number of households without a car equals 4.1% of the county's. Its number of residents living in poverty equals 6.1% of the county's.
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans
Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)37.5%(850)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)24.6%(558)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era30.7%(695)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War2.5%(56)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II1.7%(38)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 2,264 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time
Urbandale, decade by decade
Urbandale population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
23,500
$102,449
$207,606
37.5%
8.0
2000
29,072
$108,833
$238,819
43.7%
13.8
2010
39,463
$116,166
$274,767
47.4%
25.5
2020
45,580
$116,308
$293,919
49.1%
40.4
2024
46,595
$112,795
$335,500
51.2%
44.8
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
