Population 107,968 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Dallas County
Household size in Dallas County
| Period | Dallas County | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.59 | 2.51 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.67 | 2.56 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.56 | 2.55 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.59 | 2.52 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.00 | +0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Dallas County average 2.59 people, about the same as the country as a whole (2.65). Few Iowa counties have larger households: only six of 99.
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 Dallas County
| Period | Dallas County | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.0 | 36.2 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 36.0 | 36.7 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 35.8 | 37.2 | 39.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 36.9 | 37.6 | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.9 | +1.4 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
Dallas County is younger than the country as a whole: its median age is 36.9, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 35.0, in line with the national trend. Only four of Iowa's 99 counties are younger.
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 Dallas County
| Period | Dallas County | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.6% | 10.2% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.2% | 11.1% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.6% | 10.9% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.1% | 11.2% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.5 pts | +0.9 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 8.1% of households in Dallas County, well below the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged up 0.5 points, even as the national share fell.
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 Dallas County
Renters in Dallas County
| Period | Dallas County | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.4% | 27.3% | 26.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 23.8% | 29.3% | 28.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 26.3% | 30.3% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 31.0% | 30.5% | 28.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | +8.6 pts | +3.2 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Just over three in ten households in Dallas County rent their homes (31.0%), a little below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. Among owners, 30.6% have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 8.6 points, a much bigger shift than nationally. Among Iowa's 99 counties, though, only nine have a higher share of renters.
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 Dallas County
| Period | Dallas County | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.7% | 7.7% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 5.8% | 7.2% | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.5% | 7.2% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.9% | 7.0% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.8 pts | −0.7 pts | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Dallas County than nationally: 5.9%, against 9.6% for the U.S. Vacancy has fallen 1.8 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Few Iowa counties have a lower vacancy rate: only two of 99.
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 Dallas County
| Period | Dallas County | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1989 | 1976 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1990 | 1977 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1994 | 1979 | 1969 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 2000 | 1983 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Change | +11 | +7 | +6 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Dallas County is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 2000, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1989 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the southeast, while the northwest has the oldest housing. Dallas County has the newest homes of any Iowa county.
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 Dallas County
| Period | Dallas County | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $812 | $808 | $669 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,026 | $899 | $732 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,116 | $986 | $821 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,300 | $1,210 | $1,020 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$488 | +$402 | +$351 | +$606 |
Rent in Dallas County runs $1,300 a month at the median, utilities included, below the U.S. median of $1,571. Still, rents here are higher than in the Des Moines area as a whole ($1,210). Rents are up $488 a month from 2006–10, a 60% jump, roughly in step with the nation. No other Iowa county has higher rents.
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 Dallas County
Bachelor's degrees in Dallas County
| Period | Dallas County | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 45.7% | 33.6% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 46.0% | 35.5% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 51.8% | 37.1% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 52.3% | 40.3% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.6 pts | +6.6 pts | +5.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
Dallas County is highly educated: just over half of adults 25 and older (52.3%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 6.6 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Only two of Iowa's 99 counties have 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 Dallas County
| Period | Dallas County | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 94.3% | 91.9% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 95.1% | 92.8% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 95.8% | 92.7% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.5% | 92.9% | 93.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.2 pts | +1.0 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Dallas County: 95.5% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has edged up 1.2 points since 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. Dallas County has a higher share of high school graduates than the great majority of Iowa counties.
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 Dallas County
| Period | Dallas County | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.4% | 4.8% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 2.7% | 5.4% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.6% | 3.8% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.3% | 4.5% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | −0.3 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Dallas County has been low: just 2.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has edged down 1.2 points, mirroring the country. 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).
Dallas County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas County | 2.59 | 36.9 | 8.1% | 31.0% | 5.9% | 2000 | $1,300 | 52.3% | 95.5% | 2.3% |
| Polk County | 2.51 | 37.0 | 12.0% | 32.6% | 6.9% | 1981 | $1,241 | 40.5% | 91.7% | 5.0% |
| Guthrie County | 2.30 | 45.0 | 7.7% | 16.0% | 19.7% | 1962 | $825 | 24.9% | 95.8% | 3.1% |
| Jasper County | 2.44 | 41.6 | 10.4% | 27.7% | 9.6% | 1964 | $870 | 20.3% | 94.1% | 7.2% |
| Audubon County | 2.16 | 47.3 | 7.8% | 23.8% | 8.1% | 1948 | $758 | 21.2% | 92.1% | 1.5% |
| Poweshiek County | 2.19 | 41.2 | 7.2% | 28.8% | 11.7% | 1965 | $881 | 28.4% | 94.7% | 3.5% |
| Shelby County | 2.41 | 44.4 | 7.5% | 22.2% | 11.9% | 1953 | $777 | 25.1% | 95.5% | 3.1% |
| Iowa County | 2.35 | 43.5 | 9.6% | 23.4% | 5.9% | 1967 | $775 | 25.3% | 95.4% | 1.7% |
| Harrison County | 2.42 | 42.5 | 6.4% | 22.9% | 8.6% | 1958 | $851 | 23.0% | 94.1% | 2.2% |
| Washington County | 2.52 | 43.6 | 7.7% | 16.8% | 4.2% | 1974 | $1,007 | 35.9% | 96.1% | 2.1% |
| Johnson County | 2.40 | 34.6 | 6.9% | 40.6% | 7.5% | 1989 | $1,205 | 55.7% | 96.1% | 3.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Lenawee County, MI · Wicomico County, MD · Bay County, MI · Craven County, NC · Bradley County, TN · Burleigh County, ND · Nash County, NC · Monongalia County, WV · Nassau County, FL · Navajo County, AZ
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 Dallas County. 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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