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METRO AREA

Des Moines Metro

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA · 6 counties · 758,539 residents (2025 est.) · 3,612.308 sq mi
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The short version

Des Moines has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $86,618. Population has grown 41% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $270,939. It ranks in the top 5% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 36.9
US median: 38.9
More educated
40% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 51%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
731,120
+41%since 2000
from 518,607 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
202 / sq mi
+41%since 2000
from 144 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
36.9
+5%since 2000
from 35.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:758,539 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
423K507K591K675K759K1990201020202024Des Moines
2024731K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$86,618
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $45,993 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$46,354
+103%since 2000
from $22,866 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
56.5%
+21.5 ptssince 2009
from 35.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
9.1%
+1.7 ptssince 2000
from 7.4% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.434
+2%since 2010
from 0.425 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Other services14.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration12.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Information11%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade9.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade7.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance5%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.3%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing2.7%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.7%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.6%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$270,939
+51%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $98,642 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,137
+14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $548 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
69.5%
−1.7 ptssince 2000
from 71.3% in 2000
30.5% rent
Vacancy rate
6.2%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 6.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
17.6%
−4.2 ptssince 2009
from 21.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
42.2%
+3.1 ptssince 2009
from 39.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.1
+46%since 2000
from 2.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
68
RELATED:See current rent listings in Des Moines on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic89.1%(462,042)
Black3.6%(18,596)
Hispanic / Latino3.8%(19,730)
Asian2%(10,398)
Other0%
Diversity Score22.3%(115,686)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic77.4%(565,730)
Black5.6%(41,017)
Hispanic / Latino8.7%(63,681)
Asian4.2%(30,838)
Other4.1%(29,854)
Diversity Score48.4%(353,749)
Segregation Score34.6%(253,229)
Diversity Score
48
+117%since 2000
from 22 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
35
−11%since 2020
from 39 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
39.8%
+12.7 ptssince 2000
from 27.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
93.4%
+5.1 ptssince 2000
from 88.4% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
13.0%
+5.2 ptssince 2000
from 7.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.0 min
+72%since 2000
from 12.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
72.7%
−8.6 ptssince 2009
from 81.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.8%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 10.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.4%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
16.1%
+12.2 ptssince 2009
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.5%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.2%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.1%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 5.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.0%
−1.5 ptssince 2011
from 5.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
71.0%
−2.0 ptssince 2011
from 73.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
12.0%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 11.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
45.4%
−20.7 ptssince 2009
from 66.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.9%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 49.1% in 2009
Female
50.1%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 50.9% in 2009
Foreign born
8.8%
+3.0 ptssince 2009
from 5.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.8%
−42.5 ptssince 2009
from 48.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
11.0%
+0.6 ptssince 2012
from 10.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.8%
−87.5 ptssince 2013
from 92.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
91.8%
+10.5 ptssince 2017
from 81.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
87.3%
−2.3 ptssince 2016
from 89.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
5.8%
+1.1 ptssince 2016
from 4.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

Des MoinesCENTRAL212,086West Des MoinesCENTRAL74,224
What's inside

6 component counties

Polk CountyCENTRAL516,546Dallas CountyCENTRAL118,457Warren County57,331Jasper County38,153Madison County17,270Guthrie County10,782
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Des Moines

Colorado Springs
Pop 781,796
Madison
Pop 709,685
Boise City
Pop 864,243
Charleston
Pop 889,263
Places similar to Des Moines
Head to head

Compare Des Moines side by side

DES MOINES VS
Colorado Springs
Income$90,201+4%
Home value$461,611+70%
Population781,796+3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DES MOINES VS
Madison
Income$88,936+3%
Home value$373,185+38%
Population709,685−6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DES MOINES VS
Boise City
Income$85,629−1%
Home value$469,641+73%
Population864,243+14%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DES MOINES VS
Charleston
Income$85,207−2%
Home value$404,179+49%
Population889,263+17%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA has about 731,120 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA earns about $86,618 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA expensive?

In Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, the median home is worth about $270,939, and the typical rent is about $1,137 a month.

How educated are people in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?

About 39.8% of adults age 25 and over in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?

About 9.1% of people in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA live below the federal poverty line.

Has Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA grown since 1990?

Yes, Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA has grown since 1990. The population has added about 279,979 residents, a change of about 62 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →