CensusEasy
CITY · 1990 CENSUS

West Des Moines

Iowa · 31,695 residents · 47.293 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Des Moines metro area
Compare
The short version

West Des Moines is significantly wealthier than the US average, with a median household income of $41,045. Population has fallen 32% since 2000, a loss of 14,708 residents. 42% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 20%. Median home value is $90,100. Poverty is rare here, at 3.3% of residents. Households here earn about 56% more than the Iowa median.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $30,130
Mid-age
median age 33.2
US median: 33.0
More educated
42% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
More affordable
home values down 14%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
31,695
−32%vs 2000
vs 46,403 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
33.2
+1%vs 2000
vs 33.0 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Population, 1990 – 2024
28K40K51K63K75K1990201020202024West Des Moines
202471K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 1990
Under 56.6%(2,089)
US avg: 7.3%
5 to 96.8%(2,171)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 146.3%(2,009)
US avg: 6.9%
15 to 196%(1,888)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 247.8%(2,487)
US avg: 7.5%
25 to 3419.7%(6,244)
US avg: 17.5%
35 to 4416.3%(5,175)
US avg: 15.1%
45 to 5411.9%(3,778)
US avg: 10.2%
55 to 647.9%(2,505)
US avg: 8.5%
65 to 746.2%(1,956)
US avg: 7.3%
75 to 843.1%(977)
US avg: 4%
85 and over1.3%(416)
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$41,045
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $54,139 in 2000
US average: $30,130
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$21,503
−32%vs 2000
vs $31,405 in 2000
US average: $14,340
Poverty rate
3.3%
−1.2 ptsvs 2000
vs 4.5% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$90,100
−14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $137,800 in 2000
US average: $93,722
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$526
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $674 in 2000
US average: $450
Owner-occupied
62.2%
+0.1 ptsvs 2000
vs 62.1% in 2000
37.8% rent
RELATED:See current rent listings in West Des Moines on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic91.1%(42,283)
Black1.8%(856)
Hispanic / Latino3%(1,404)
Asian2.7%(1,274)
Other0%
1990
White, non-Hispanic96.7%(30,635)
Black1.2%(388)
Hispanic / Latino2.4%(745)
Asian1.2%(387)
Other0.9%(285)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Mexican4.3%(3,058)
Honduran0.5%(369)
Ecuadorian0.3%(211)
Puerto Rican0.3%(185)
Peruvian0.2%(159)
Salvadoran0.2%(136)
Venezuelan0.1%(90)
Cuban0.1%(87)
Colombian0.1%(75)
Spaniard0.1%(51)
+ 4 more hispanic origin groups with data
Asian origin
Asian Indian2.5%(1,769)
Chinese0.8%(575)
Vietnamese0.7%(494)
Korean0.5%(327)
Filipino0.3%(227)
Laotian0.3%(179)
Nepalese0.1%(102)
Burmese0.1%(76)
Indonesian0.1%(49)
Japanese0.1%(46)
Bangladeshi0.1%(46)
Kazakh0%(34)
+ 4 more asian origin groups with data
Thai0%(27)
Malaysian0%(20)
Hmong0%(14)
Pakistani0%(12)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
German26.4%(18,791)
Irish16.1%(11,441)
English13%(9,273)
Norwegian5.1%(3,625)
Italian4.9%(3,478)
Swedish3.3%(2,376)
American3.2%(2,257)
Dutch2.4%(1,735)
Danish2.2%(1,567)
Scottish2.1%(1,518)
French1.7%(1,190)
+ 32 more ancestry groups with data
Polish1.5%(1,080)
Scotch-Irish0.9%(640)
Czech0.8%(573)
Arab0.8%(535)
Welsh0.7%(490)
Russian0.6%(447)
British0.5%(381)
Portuguese0.4%(281)
Ethiopian0.4%(262)
Ukrainian0.3%(227)
Finnish0.3%(211)
Romanian0.3%(208)
Egyptian0.3%(188)
Austrian0.2%(142)
Croatian0.2%(122)
Swiss0.1%(104)
Iraqi0.1%(93)
Nigerian0.1%(92)
Slovak0.1%(91)
Lebanese0.1%(89)
Lithuanian0.1%(82)
Belgian0.1%(45)
Greek0.1%(41)
Ghanaian0%(25)
Hungarian0%(23)
Serbian0%(20)
Armenian0%(14)
Brazilian0%(14)
Bulgarian0%(14)
Slovene0%(12)
Jordanian0%(10)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest Norwegian population · Largest Italian population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
41.8%
−6.6 ptsvs 2000
vs 48.5% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
94.8%
−1.5 ptsvs 2000
vs 96.3% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
Graduate degree
12.3%
−1.8 ptsvs 2000
vs 14.1% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
15.7 min
+52%vs 2000
vs 10.3 min in 2000
US average: 21.9
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married40%(11,438)
Married49.7%(14,223)
Widowed2.4%(676)
Divorced8%(2,293)
Women 15+
Never married34%(10,204)
Married44.5%(13,374)
Widowed9.2%(2,749)
Divorced12.3%(3,698)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to West Des Moines

Kendall
Pop 79,562
St. Cloud
Pop 74,960
Delray Beach
Pop 69,809
Bozeman
Pop 58,814
Places similar to West Des Moines
Head to head

Compare West Des Moines to nearby cities

WEST DES MOINES VS
Clive
Income$132,121+222%
Home value$401,100+345%
Population19,861−73%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WEST DES MOINES VS
Waukee
Income$101,029+146%
Home value$350,500+289%
Population34,890−53%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WEST DES MOINES VS
Urbandale
Income$112,795+175%
Home value$335,500+272%
Population48,570−35%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WEST DES MOINES VS
Norwalk
Income$102,722+150%
Home value$303,100+236%
Population15,004−80%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in West Des Moines, Iowa?

West Des Moines, Iowa has about 31,695 residents according to the 1990 Census.

What is the median household income in West Des Moines, Iowa?

The typical household in West Des Moines, Iowa earns about $41,045 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is West Des Moines, Iowa expensive?

In West Des Moines, Iowa, the median home is worth about $90,100, and the typical rent is about $526 a month.

How educated are people in West Des Moines, Iowa?

About 41.8% of adults age 25 and over in West Des Moines, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in West Des Moines, Iowa?

About 3.3% of people in West Des Moines, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
Iowa
Rankings
Highest income citiesFastest growing citiesMost educated cities
Compare
Compare West Des Moines with another place

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

How we source and harmonize this data →