United States › Iowa › West Des Moines CITY · 2020 ACS
West Des Moines Iowa · 68,723 residents · 47.3 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS 2024 ACS
The short version
West Des Moines is a city of 68,723 people in Iowa. 54% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, against 33% nationally. 22,320 more people live here than in 2000. The median age is 35.3, younger than the US median of 38.8. The average commute runs 17 minutes. That is roughly 20% ahead of the Iowa median.
At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 35.3
US median: 38.8
More educated
54% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 33.0 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
28K 40K 51K 63K 75K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 West Des Moines Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $74,159
−9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $54,139 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $31,405 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 40.7% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 4.5% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Public administration 19.5%
Professional, scientific, technical 4.1%
Transportation & warehousing 3%
Arts, entertainment, food 2.3%
Education & health services 0.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0.5%
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$228,300
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $137,800 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$1,058
+4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $674 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 62.1% in 2000
42.5% rent
from 2.31 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 2.9 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 91.1%(42,283)
Hispanic / Latino 3%(1,404)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 76.5%(52,552)
Hispanic / Latino 6.6%(4,568)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Hispanic origin
+ 3 more hispanic origin groups with data Ancestry
+ 40 more ancestry groups with data from 48.5% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 96.3% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 14.1% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 10.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 86.1% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 4.0% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 4.7% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 76.6% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 46.0% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 8.0% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 6.3% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 6.3% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 26.5%(832)
Share of the 3,137 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
Compare West Des Moines to nearby cities WEST DES MOINES VS
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Frequently asked
How many people live in West Des Moines, Iowa? West Des Moines, Iowa has about 68,723 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in West Des Moines, Iowa? The typical household in West Des Moines, Iowa earns about $74,159 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 $228,300, and the typical rent is about $1,058 a month.
How educated are people in West Des Moines, Iowa? About 54.0% 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 6.8% 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 37,028 residents, a change of about 117 percent over that period.
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