Population 8,922 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Beaverdale
Household size in Beaverdale
| Period | Beaverdale | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.13 | 2.51 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.04 | 2.56 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.02 | 2.55 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.99 | 2.52 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.15 | +0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Beaverdale is a place of small households, averaging 1.99 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has dropped from 2.13 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only one other Des Moines neighborhood has smaller households.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Beaverdale
| Period | Beaverdale | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.4 | 36.2 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.0 | 36.7 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 38.7 | 37.2 | 39.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 42.0 | 37.6 | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.6 | +1.4 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Beaverdale is 42.0 years old, a bit older than the national median of 40.1. The median age has climbed from 39.4 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. No other Des Moines neighborhood is older.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Beaverdale
| Period | Beaverdale | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.3% | 10.2% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.5% | 11.1% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.7% | 10.9% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.5% | 11.2% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.8 pts | +0.9 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 6.5% of households in Beaverdale, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 1.8 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Beaverdale has the lowest share of single-parent households of any Des Moines neighborhood.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Beaverdale
Renters in Beaverdale
| Period | Beaverdale | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.7% | 27.3% | 26.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 23.5% | 29.3% | 28.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 27.6% | 30.3% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 24.1% | 30.5% | 28.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.3 pts | +3.2 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Beaverdale is largely a place of homeowners: only 24.1% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 25.1% have no mortgage at all, well below the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the southwest and least common in the northeast.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Beaverdale
| Period | Beaverdale | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.0% | 7.7% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.7% | 7.2% | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.3% | 7.2% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.7% | 7.0% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.7 pts | −0.7 pts | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Beaverdale: 7.7% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. The Des Moines area as a whole looks much the same. Vacancy is up 1.7 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Beaverdale
| Period | Beaverdale | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1943 | 1976 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1944 | 1977 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1946 | 1979 | 1969 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1944 | 1983 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Change | +1 | +7 | +6 | +6 |
Beaverdale is a place of older homes: half were built before 1944, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The newest homes are mostly in the northeast, the oldest in the southeast.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Beaverdale
| Period | Beaverdale | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $813 | $808 | $669 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $849 | $899 | $732 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $955 | $986 | $821 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,253 | $1,210 | $1,020 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$440 | +$402 | +$351 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Beaverdale costs $1,253 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $440 a month from 2006–10, a 54% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 31.0% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the north and lowest in the southeast.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Beaverdale
Bachelor's degrees in Beaverdale
| Period | Beaverdale | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 45.3% | 33.6% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 48.8% | 35.5% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 52.3% | 37.1% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 48.7% | 40.3% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.4 pts | +6.6 pts | +5.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Beaverdale: 48.7% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 3.4 points, mirroring the country. Only one other Des Moines neighborhood has a higher share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Beaverdale
| Period | Beaverdale | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 96.6% | 91.9% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 96.2% | 92.8% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 95.8% | 92.7% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.1% | 92.9% | 93.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | +1.0 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Beaverdale: 95.1% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has fallen 1.5 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate rose. Beaverdale has the highest share of high school graduates of any Des Moines neighborhood.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Beaverdale
| Period | Beaverdale | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.3% | 4.8% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 3.0% | 5.4% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.0% | 3.8% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.4% | 4.5% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | +2.2 pts | −0.3 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little harder to find in Beaverdale than nationally: unemployment was 6.4%, against 5.4%. Unemployment has risen 2.2 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Beaverdale compared with nearby neighborhoods
| Neighborhood | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beaverdale | 1.99 | 42.0 | 6.5% | 24.1% | 7.7% | 1944 | $1,253 | 48.7% | 95.1% | 6.4% |
| Drake | 2.21 | 28.2 | 10.4% | 55.9% | 9.2% | 1944 | $1,140 | 38.4% | 87.5% | 7.0% |
| Merle Hay | 2.08 | 40.8 | 9.7% | 25.5% | 6.0% | 1955 | $1,228 | 35.3% | 93.7% | 4.4% |
| Lower Beaver | 2.37 | 36.4 | 18.0% | 26.3% | 7.5% | 1962 | $1,460 | 34.0% | 87.0% | 2.2% |
| Meredith | 2.57 | 36.0 | 10.7% | 44.9% | 11.5% | 1973 | $1,185 | 31.7% | 88.4% | 3.3% |
| Oak Park | 2.24 | 39.9 | 24.5% | 20.5% | 9.4% | 1943 | $1,207 | 24.1% | 85.7% | 1.6% |
| River Bend | 2.73 | 35.7 | 22.1% | 49.2% | 17.9% | 1944 | $934 | 9.9% | 69.0% | 4.5% |
| Highland Park | 2.56 | 35.5 | 23.9% | 34.0% | 11.7% | 1950 | $1,054 | 11.6% | 78.9% | 6.5% |
| Downtown Des Moines | 1.34 | 28.0 | 7.7% | 90.5% | 12.6% | 1985 | $1,283 | 67.0% | 94.4% | 4.0% |
| Union Park | 2.77 | 33.9 | 16.5% | 20.2% | 7.1% | 1946 | $1,320 | 15.9% | 80.2% | 5.6% |
| Capitol Park | 3.14 | 36.6 | 26.8% | 39.3% | 11.2% | 1945 | $1,084 | 15.1% | 80.5% | 8.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Bay Farm Island, Alameda, CA · Lakeside, San Antonio, TX · Desert Hills, Las Vegas, NV · Hatchville, East Falmouth, MA · Midway-Coldstream, Baltimore, MD · Donelson, Nashville, TN · Federal Hill Historic District, Bristol, CT · Downtown Walnut Creek, Walnut Creek, CA · Lindenwood Park, St. Louis, MO · Mustang-Padre Island, Corpus Christi, TX
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Beaverdale. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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