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METRO AREA · 2010 ACS

Des Moines Metro

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA · 6 counties · 606,475 residents · 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 $56,967. Population has grown 17% since 2000. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $149,486.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $52,703
Younger
median age 35.7
US median: 37.2
More educated
32% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
606,475
+17%since 2000
from 518,607 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
168 / sq mi
+17%since 2000
from 144 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 261
Median age
35.7
+2%since 2000
from 35.1 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
423K507K591K675K759K1990201020202024Des Moines
2024731K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$56,967
−2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $45,993 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$29,118
+27%since 2000
from $22,866 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
35.9%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 35.0% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
9.7%
+2.3 ptssince 2000
from 7.4% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.425
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Other services16.5%
US avg: 7%
Public administration14.8%
US avg: 4.9%
Information11.2%
US avg: 11.5%
Retail trade8.4%
US avg: 10.9%
Wholesale trade6.7%
US avg: 7.2%
Finance & insurance4.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Professional, scientific, technical3.8%
US avg: 4.2%
Transportation & warehousing3.5%
US avg: 3.1%
Arts, entertainment, food2.9%
US avg: 2.4%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.5%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction1.5%
US avg: 1.4%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$149,486
+20%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $98,642 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$693
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $548 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
54.3%
−17.0 ptssince 2000
from 71.3% in 2000
28.3% rent
Vacancy rate
6.9%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 6.7% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
22.5%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 21.9% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
41.0%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 39.1% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
2.6
+22%since 2000
from 2.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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)
2010
White, non-Hispanic84.4%(511,718)
Black4.4%(26,972)
Hispanic / Latino6.4%(38,541)
Asian2.8%(17,270)
Other1.9%(11,316)
Diversity Score34.9%(211,762)
Diversity Score
35
+57%since 2000
from 22 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
31.6%
+4.5 ptssince 2000
from 27.1% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
91.4%
+3.0 ptssince 2000
from 88.4% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
8.9%
+1.2 ptssince 2000
from 7.7% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
19.9 min
+63%since 2000
from 12.2 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
81.1%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 81.3% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
10.5%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 10.5% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
1.3%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
4.1%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
1.9%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
0.2%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
5.4%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 5.2% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
11.5%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 11.6% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
37.7%
−28.4 ptssince 2009
from 66.0% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.1%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 49.1% in 2009
Female
50.9%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 50.9% in 2009
Foreign born
6.5%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 5.8% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
9.5%
−38.8 ptssince 2009
from 48.3% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
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+58%
Home value$461,611+209%
Population781,796+3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DES MOINES VS
Madison
Income$88,936+56%
Home value$373,185+150%
Population709,685−6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DES MOINES VS
Boise City
Income$85,629+50%
Home value$469,641+214%
Population864,243+14%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DES MOINES VS
Charleston
Income$85,207+50%
Home value$404,179+170%
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 606,475 residents according to the 2010 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 $56,967 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 $149,486, and the typical rent is about $693 a month.

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

About 31.6% 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 9.7% 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 155,334 residents, a change of about 34 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 →