United States › Iowa › West Des Moines CITY · 2000 CENSUS
West Des Moines Iowa · 46,403 residents · 47.3 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
With 46,403 people, West Des Moines is a city in Iowa. 48% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, against 24% nationally. 14,708 more people live here than in 1990. Households here earn about 37% more than in Iowa as a whole. Poverty is uncommon here, at 4.5% of residents. Getting to work takes 10 minutes on average.
At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $42,589
Younger
median age 33.0
US median: 35.2
More educated
48% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01
Population & growth from 33.2 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
28K 40K 51K 63K 75K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 West Des Moines Age distribution, 2000
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $54,139
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 1990
from $41,045 in 1990
US average: $42,589
from $21,503 in 1990
US average: $21,522
from 3.3% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
$137,800
+16%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $90,100 in 1990
US average: $120,530
$674
−3%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $526 in 1990
US average: $602
from 62.2% in 1990
37.9% rent
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 1990
White, non-Hispanic 96.7%(30,635)
Hispanic / Latino 2.4%(745)
2000
White, non-Hispanic 91.1%(42,283)
Hispanic / Latino 3%(1,404)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.
Hispanic origin
+ 4 more hispanic origin groups with data Asian origin
+ 4 more asian origin groups with data Ancestry
+ 32 more ancestry groups with data from 41.8% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
from 94.8% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
from 12.3% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 15.7 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07
Work & employment No data for the years selected.
Section 08
People & community No data for the years selected.
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 27.5%(4,677)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Section 09
Health coverage Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).
from 6.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 71.3% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 13.8% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 14.0% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 11.8% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 1.9% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 83.6% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 24.8% 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) 31.2%(940)
Gulf War (1990s) 26.1%(787)
Share of the 3,015 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.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to West Des Moines Head to head
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Frequently asked
How many people live in West Des Moines, Iowa? West Des Moines, Iowa has about 46,403 residents according to the 2000 Census.
What is the median household income in West Des Moines, Iowa? The typical household in West Des Moines, Iowa earns about $54,139 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 $137,800, and the typical rent is about $674 a month.
How educated are people in West Des Moines, Iowa? About 48.5% 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 4.5% of people in West Des Moines, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.
Has West Des Moines, Iowa grown since 1990? Yes, West Des Moines, Iowa has grown since 1990. The population has added about 14,708 residents, a change of about 46 percent over that period.
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