Population 1,616 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in DeSoto
Household size in DeSoto
| Period | DeSoto | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.69 | 2.51 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.72 | 2.56 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.58 | 2.55 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.64 | 2.52 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.05 | +0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in DeSoto average 2.64 people, about the same as the country as a whole (2.65). The typical household here is bigger than in the wider Des Moines area, where it has 2.52 people.
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 DeSoto
| Period | DeSoto | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.2 | 36.2 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 38.3 | 36.7 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 37.5 | 37.2 | 39.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 38.5 | 37.6 | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.4 | +1.4 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
DeSoto is a little younger than the country as a whole: its median age is 38.5, against 40.1 nationally. The picture is much the same across the Des Moines area.
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 DeSoto
| Period | DeSoto | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.3% | 10.2% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.3% | 11.1% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.1% | 10.9% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.0% | 11.2% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | +4.7 pts | +0.9 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in DeSoto: 8.0% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share is up 4.7 points from 2006–10, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
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 DeSoto
Renters in DeSoto
| Period | DeSoto | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.3% | 27.3% | 26.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 18.7% | 29.3% | 28.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 15.8% | 30.3% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 14.3% | 30.5% | 28.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.0 pts | +3.2 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
DeSoto is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 14.3% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 35.1% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%.
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 DeSoto
| Period | DeSoto | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.3% | 7.7% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 6.2% | 7.2% | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 12.0% | 7.2% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.0% | 7.0% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | +2.6 pts | −0.7 pts | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in DeSoto: 8.0% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. That is in line with the rest of the Des Moines area.
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 DeSoto
| Period | DeSoto | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1974 | 1976 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1978 | 1977 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1980 | 1979 | 1969 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1979 | 1983 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +7 | +6 | +6 |
Homes in DeSoto are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1979, versus 1980 nationally.
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 DeSoto
| Period | DeSoto | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $657 | $808 | $669 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $653 | $899 | $732 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $753 | $986 | $821 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,169 | $1,210 | $1,020 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$512 | +$402 | +$351 | +$606 |
Rent in DeSoto runs $1,169 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. The picture is much the same across the Des Moines area. The typical renter here spends 20.6% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
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 DeSoto
Bachelor's degrees in DeSoto
| Period | DeSoto | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.6% | 33.6% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 25.9% | 35.5% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 28.4% | 37.1% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 31.8% | 40.3% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +10.2 pts | +6.6 pts | +5.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a little less common in DeSoto than nationally: 31.8% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%.
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 DeSoto
| Period | DeSoto | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 92.2% | 91.9% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 92.2% | 92.8% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 95.3% | 92.7% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 97.0% | 92.9% | 93.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.7 pts | +1.0 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in DeSoto: 97.0% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%.
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 DeSoto
| Period | DeSoto | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.9% | 4.8% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.3% | 5.4% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.5% | 3.8% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.3% | 4.5% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | −0.3 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in DeSoto has been low: just 2.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's 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).
DeSoto compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeSoto | 2.64 | 38.5 | 8.0% | 14.3% | 8.0% | 1979 | $1,169 | 31.8% | 97.0% | 2.3% |
| Van Meter | 2.91 | 40.7 | 3.8% | 12.2% | 1.8% | 1998 | $1,088 | 49.4% | 97.9% | 2.4% |
| Earlham | 2.53 | 41.8 | 12.9% | 20.1% | 5.3% | 1978 | $949 | 31.3% | 96.6% | 4.0% |
| Adel | 2.70 | 38.9 | 3.4% | 26.6% | 3.0% | 1994 | $1,023 | 40.5% | 95.9% | 2.3% |
| Wiscotta | 2.69 | 44.0 | 6.0% | 10.0% | 5.7% | 1979 | $864 | 43.3% | 96.7% | 2.4% |
| Booneville | 2.52 | 39.3 | 12.0% | 23.2% | 5.0% | 2011 | $1,235 | 62.1% | 96.5% | 2.3% |
| Waukee | 2.52 | 35.5 | 10.4% | 31.0% | 4.7% | 2008 | $1,424 | 58.4% | 95.6% | 3.1% |
| Redfield | 2.57 | 36.7 | 17.1% | 13.3% | 9.4% | 1944 | $908 | 20.2% | 93.4% | 4.4% |
| Dexter | 2.60 | 45.4 | 4.5% | 11.7% | 9.6% | 1982 | $788 | 40.3% | 96.6% | 3.2% |
| Dallas Center | 2.60 | 42.6 | 5.5% | 12.6% | 8.0% | 1981 | $1,139 | 37.3% | 96.5% | 0.5% |
| Cumming | 2.85 | 45.8 | 4.9% | 5.1% | 4.1% | 1994 | $1,112 | 43.0% | 97.2% | 1.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: South Orrington, ME · Centerville, PA · Chatsworth, IL · Clarks Green, PA · Clarktown, NJ · Dawson, IL · Denton, NE · Gilbertville, MA · Sapphire, NC · Sheffield, PA
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 DeSoto. 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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