CensusEasy
CensusEasy
CITY

Waukee

Iowa · 34,890 residents (2025 est.) · 21.8 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Des Moines metro area
The short version

Waukee is a city of 29,236 people in Iowa. Since 2000 the city has more than tripled, up 24,110 people. 58% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, against 36% nationally. Few US cities rank higher on income. Households here earn about 35% more than in Iowa as a whole. The median age is 34.7, younger than the US median of 38.9.

At a glance
Wealthier
median household income $101,029, above the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 34.7
US median: 38.9
More educated
58% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 60%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place

What stands out about Waukee

What changed most since 1990

  • Population2,512 → 29,236 (+1,064%)US over the same years: +35%
  • Adults with a bachelor's degree18.6% → 58.0% (+39.4 pts)US over the same years: +15.3 pts
  • Homes owned by their occupants77.3% → 66.5% (−10.8 pts)US over the same years: +0.9 pts

Among the 73 cities and towns in the Des Moines metro

  • 22nd in household income$101,029
  • 3rd in share with a bachelor's degree58.0%
  • 7th in home value$350,500
  • 4th in diversity score50.3

Its weight in Dallas County

Waukee's population equals 27% of Dallas County's. Its number of foreign-born residents equals 37% of the county's.

Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
29,236
+470%since 2000
from 5,126 in 2000
34,890 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,342 / sq mi
+470%since 2000
from 235 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
34.7
+5%since 2000
from 33.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
21.8 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
08K16K24K32K19902000201020202024Waukee
202429K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 57.6%(2,234)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 97.6%(2,224)
US avg: 6%
10 to 148.3%(2,440)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 195.2%(1,509)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.9%(1,442)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3416.8%(4,915)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4416.3%(4,770)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5413.4%(3,918)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 648.7%(2,534)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 746.2%(1,809)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 843.7%(1,071)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.3%(370)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$101,029
−4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $58,024 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$55,193
+127%since 2000
from $24,351 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
66.0%
+16.4 ptssince 2009
from 49.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
7.4%
+4.4 ptssince 2000
from 3.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.428
+19%since 2010
from 0.359 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Other services23.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration21%
US avg: 4.8%
Information10.9%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade6.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance4.2%
US avg: 5.9%
Wholesale trade3.9%
US avg: 6.9%
Transportation & warehousing3.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Professional, scientific, technical3.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Education & health services1.1%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.8%
US avg: 0.4%
Arts, entertainment, food0.6%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction0.5%
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$350,500
+60%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $120,000 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,383
+36%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $557 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
66.5%
−17.6 ptssince 2000
from 84.1% in 2000
33.5% rent
Vacancy rate
3.2%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 4.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Persons per household
2.46 people
−12%since 2009
from 2.81 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
Owner cost-burdened
19.7%
+2.6 ptssince 2009
from 17.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
32.9%
+6.1 ptssince 2009
from 26.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.5
+37%since 2009
from 2.5 in 2009
1990 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
55
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic97.7%(5,006)
Black0.4%(22)
Hispanic / Latino0.7%(38)
Asian0.6%(29)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic76.4%(22,337)
Black5.1%(1,478)
Hispanic / Latino5.9%(1,733)
Asian6.5%(1,910)
Other6.1%(1,778)
Diversity Score
50
+443%since 2009
from 9 in 2009
1990 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican3.5%(1,015)
Colombian0.6%(164)
Peruvian0.4%(108)
Puerto Rican0.3%(101)
Guatemalan0.3%(93)
Chilean0.3%(86)
Costa Rican0.3%(83)
Dominican0%(12)
Asian origin
Asian Indian3.6%(1,048)
Nepalese0.8%(242)
Vietnamese0.5%(148)
Laotian0.5%(138)
Korean0.4%(119)
Filipino0.2%(69)
Malaysian0.2%(47)
Chinese0.1%(34)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
German25.7%(7,521)
Irish16.5%(4,818)
English13.2%(3,850)
Norwegian3.6%(1,065)
Italian3.4%(990)
French3%(879)
Swedish2.7%(785)
Dutch2.3%(678)
American2.3%(658)
Arab1.7%(511)
Scottish1.7%(503)
+ 24 more ancestry groups with data
Danish1%(304)
Czech0.9%(255)
Finnish0.7%(212)
Polish0.6%(181)
Scotch-Irish0.6%(178)
Moroccan0.6%(174)
Egyptian0.5%(147)
Swiss0.4%(114)
Brazilian0.4%(113)
Ethiopian0.4%(110)
Austrian0.3%(101)
Kenyan0.2%(73)
Welsh0.2%(73)
Belgian0.2%(64)
Iranian0.2%(59)
Greek0.2%(45)
Croatian0.1%(40)
Russian0.1%(36)
Hungarian0.1%(29)
Lebanese0.1%(24)
Nigerian0.1%(21)
Romanian0.1%(15)
Turkish0%(11)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
58.0%
+24.0 ptssince 2000
from 34.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
95.4%
+0.3 ptssince 2000
from 95.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
18.0%
+9.8 ptssince 2000
from 8.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
19.8 min
+78%since 2000
from 11.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
71.0%
−15.5 ptssince 2009
from 86.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
5.5%
−3.2 ptssince 2009
from 8.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
22.0%
+17.7 ptssince 2009
from 4.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.6%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
2.7%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.5%
+1.8 ptssince 2011
from 1.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
77.3%
−0.7 ptssince 2011
from 78.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
83.4%
−0.9 ptssince 2020
from 84.3% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
Self-employed
12.4%
+2.3 ptssince 2009
from 10.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
56.0%
+6.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.8%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 48.9% in 2009
Female
50.2%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 51.1% in 2009
Foreign born
14.2%
+11.2 ptssince 2009
from 3.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.3%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 6.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
6.4%
+0.6 ptssince 2012
from 5.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.9%
−0.1 ptssince 2013
from 5.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
93.8%
+2.6 ptssince 2017
from 91.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
98.3%
+2.2 ptssince 2020
from 96.1% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
Same house as last year
83.1%
+0.8 ptssince 2020
from 82.4% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
English only at home
83.9%
−9.9 ptssince 2016
from 93.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
3.0%
+0.9 ptssince 2016
from 2.1% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married31.4%(3,441)
Married59.7%(6,537)
Widowed0.9%(98)
Divorced8%(875)
Women 15+
Never married25.7%(2,930)
Married57.4%(6,539)
Widowed6.1%(695)
Divorced10.7%(1,223)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
4.9%
−0.1 ptssince 2013
from 5.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
70.3%
−4.9 ptssince 2020
from 75.2% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
14.7%
+3.4 ptssince 2020
from 11.3% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
10.9%
−0.4 ptssince 2020
from 11.3% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
13.2%
+3.5 ptssince 2020
from 9.7% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
1.5%
+0.4 ptssince 2020
from 1.1% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
83.5%
−0.1 ptssince 2020
from 83.6% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
23.1%
+2.3 ptssince 2020
from 20.8% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

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)43.7%(496)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)28.4%(322)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era18.3%(208)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War5.3%(60)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 1,134 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

Waukee, decade by decade

Waukee population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
YearPopulationMedian household incomeMedian home valueBachelor's degree+Diversity score
19902,512$82,915$158,16518.6%2.7
20005,126$105,700$218,59934.0%5.8
201013,790$107,048$264,55350.8%19.1
202023,940$114,381$301,07056.7%40.5
202429,236$101,029$350,50058.0%50.3

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.

Drill deeper

Places similar to Waukee

Richmond West
Pop 35,593
Miami Lakes
Pop 33,067
East Lake
Pop 33,283
Merritt Island
Pop 34,992
Places similar to Waukee
Head to head

Compare Waukee to nearby cities

WAUKEE VS
Clive
Income$132,121+31%
Home value$401,100+14%
Population19,861−43%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WAUKEE VS
West Des Moines
Income$86,594−14%
Home value$309,000−12%
Population74,224+113%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WAUKEE VS
Urbandale
Income$112,795+12%
Home value$335,500−4%
Population48,570+39%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WAUKEE VS
Grimes
Income$120,037+19%
Home value$304,700−13%
Population17,405−50%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Waukee, Iowa?

Waukee, Iowa has about 29,236 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Waukee, Iowa?

The typical household in Waukee, Iowa earns about $101,029 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Waukee, Iowa expensive?

In Waukee, Iowa, the median home is worth about $350,500, and the typical rent is about $1,383 a month.

How educated are people in Waukee, Iowa?

About 58.0% of adults age 25 and over in Waukee, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Waukee, Iowa?

About 7.4% of people in Waukee, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.

Has Waukee, Iowa grown since 1990?

Yes, Waukee, Iowa has grown since 1990. The population has added about 26,724 residents, a change of about 1064 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
Iowa

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →