United States › Des Moines METRO AREA · 1990 CENSUS
Des Moines Metro Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA · 6 counties · 451,141 residents · 3,612 sq mi
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The short version
Des Moines is a metro area of 451,141 people. The typical home is worth $56,385. The poverty rate is 8.8%, under the national 13.2%. The population has fallen 13% since 2000. About 21% of adults have finished a four-year degree. Households earn $30,653 at the median, near the US median.
At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $30,130
Mid-age
median age 33.2
US median: 33.0
Average education
21% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
More affordable
home values down 25%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01
Population & growth vs 35.1 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Population, 1990 – 2024
423K 507K 591K 675K 759K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Des Moines Age distribution, 1990
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $30,653
−12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $45,993 in 2000
US average: $30,130
vs $22,866 in 2000
US average: $14,340
vs 7.4% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
$56,385
−25%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $98,642 in 2000
US average: $93,722
$406
−2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $548 in 2000
US average: $450
vs 71.3% in 2000
32.0% rent
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 89.1%(462,042)
Hispanic / Latino 3.8%(19,730)
1990
White, non-Hispanic 94.5%(426,463)
Hispanic / Latino 1.6%(7,142)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.
Hispanic origin
+ 8 more hispanic origin groups with data Asian origin
+ 8 more asian origin groups with data Ancestry
+ 47 more ancestry groups with data vs 27.1% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
vs 88.4% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
vs 7.7% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06
Commute & transportation vs 12.2 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 married 34.9%(100,987)
Women 15+
Never married 29.5%(86,618)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).
from 7.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 65.4% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 13.4% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 14.8% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 18.5% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 2.1% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 76.9% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 31.8% 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) 27.4%(8,806)
Gulf War (1990s) 23.4%(7,534)
Share of the 32,182 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
In this metro
Largest cities Des MoinesCENTRAL 212,086 Ankeny 77,833 West Des MoinesCENTRAL 74,224 Urbandale 48,570 Waukee 34,890 Johnston 25,065 Altoona 22,796 Clive 19,861 Grimes 17,405 Indianola 16,829 Newton 15,741 Norwalk 15,004 Pleasant Hill 11,239 Bondurant 9,647 Perry 8,208 Adel 7,098 Polk City 6,630 Winterset 5,520 Windsor Heights 5,059 Carlisle 4,532 Saylorville 3,366 Mitchellville 2,671 Colfax 2,303 Granger 2,179 Dallas Center 2,042 Monroe 2,022 Van Meter 1,978 Prairie City 1,724 Guthrie Center 1,583 Earlham 1,396 The 30 most populous of 73 cities and towns in this metro. CENTRAL marks the metro's principal cities.
What's inside
6 component counties Drill deeper
Metros similar to Des Moines Head to head
Compare Des Moines side by side DES MOINES VS
Colorado Springs
Income $90,201 +194%
Home value $461,611 +719%
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DES MOINES VS
Madison
Income $88,936 +190%
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DES MOINES VS
Boise City
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DES MOINES VS
Charleston
Income $85,207 +178%
Home value $404,179 +617%
Population 889,263 +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 451,141 residents according to the 1990 Census.
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 $30,653 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 $56,385, and the typical rent is about $406 a month.
How educated are people in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA? About 21.2% 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 8.8% of people in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA live below the federal poverty line.
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