Population 4,285 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Fairground
Household size in Fairground
| Period | Fairground | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.48 | 2.51 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.74 | 2.56 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.64 | 2.55 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.74 | 2.52 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.27 | +0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Fairground average 2.74 people, a bit above the national 2.65, so families with children are somewhat more common here. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.48, but in a place this small, survey estimates can swing a lot from one release to the next. Fairground has larger households than the great majority of Des Moines neighborhoods.
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 Fairground
| Period | Fairground | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.2 | 36.2 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 31.2 | 36.7 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 36.0 | 37.2 | 39.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 33.4 | 37.6 | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | −1.8 | +1.4 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
With a median age of just 33.4, Fairground is far younger than the country as a whole (40.1), a population that tilts toward young families with children. Fairground is younger than at least four in five Des Moines neighborhoods.
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 Fairground
| Period | Fairground | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.7% | 10.2% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 21.9% | 11.1% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 18.6% | 10.9% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 18.6% | 11.2% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | +3.9 pts | +0.9 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head nearly one in five households in Fairground (18.6%), well above the national share of 11.6%. Compared with other Des Moines neighborhoods, Fairground has a higher share of single-parent households than most.
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 Fairground
Renters in Fairground
| Period | Fairground | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.1% | 27.3% | 26.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 30.7% | 29.3% | 28.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 39.5% | 30.3% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 19.6% | 30.5% | 28.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.4 pts | +3.2 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Fairground is largely a place of homeowners: only 19.6% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Just over a third of owners (35.4%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. Few Des Moines neighborhoods have a lower share of renters: only two of 22.
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 Fairground
| Period | Fairground | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.9% | 7.7% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.0% | 7.2% | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.1% | 7.2% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 10.2% | 7.0% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | −4.7 pts | −0.7 pts | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Fairground is close to the national rate: 10.2% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. The rate is higher than in the Des Moines area overall (7.0%).
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 Fairground
| Period | Fairground | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1939 | 1976 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1938 | 1977 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1938 | 1979 | 1969 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1940 | 1983 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Change | +1 | +7 | +6 | +6 |
Fairground is a place of older homes: half were built before 1940, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. Fairground has the oldest homes of any Des Moines neighborhood.
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 Fairground
| Period | Fairground | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $609 | $808 | $669 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $892 | $899 | $732 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $872 | $986 | $821 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,117 | $1,210 | $1,020 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$508 | +$402 | +$351 | +$606 |
The median renter in Fairground pays $1,117 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. The typical renter here spends 37.1% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
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 Fairground
Bachelor's degrees in Fairground
| Period | Fairground | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.0% | 33.6% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 5.6% | 35.5% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 11.5% | 37.1% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 14.8% | 40.3% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.8 pts | +6.6 pts | +5.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Fairground: 14.8% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. Fairground has a lower share of college graduates than the great majority of Des Moines neighborhoods.
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 Fairground
| Period | Fairground | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 81.1% | 91.9% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 83.7% | 92.8% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 78.0% | 92.7% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 78.5% | 92.9% | 93.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | −2.6 pts | +1.0 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
Just over one in five adults in Fairground never finished high school, well above the national share: only 78.5% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. Fairground has a lower share of high school graduates than the great majority of Des Moines neighborhoods.
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 Fairground
| Period | Fairground | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.6% | 4.8% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 14.5% | 5.4% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.9% | 3.8% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.1% | 4.5% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.5 pts | −0.3 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Fairground runs well above the national rate: 8.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4%. Fairground has higher unemployment than at least four in five Des Moines neighborhoods. 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).
Fairground 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairground | 2.74 | 33.4 | 18.6% | 19.6% | 10.2% | 1940 | $1,117 | 14.8% | 78.5% | 8.1% |
| Accent | 2.76 | 38.8 | 15.0% | 18.6% | 4.2% | 1952 | $1,193 | 12.5% | 84.2% | 11.7% |
| Fairmont Park | 2.41 | 37.8 | 13.5% | 31.9% | 11.8% | 1954 | $1,248 | 13.3% | 89.4% | 5.8% |
| Capitol Park | 3.14 | 36.6 | 26.8% | 39.3% | 11.2% | 1945 | $1,084 | 15.1% | 80.5% | 8.6% |
| Union Park | 2.77 | 33.9 | 16.5% | 20.2% | 7.1% | 1946 | $1,320 | 15.9% | 80.2% | 5.6% |
| Pioneer Park | 2.63 | 31.4 | 24.1% | 52.2% | 6.1% | 1983 | $1,110 | 18.3% | 73.8% | 7.5% |
| Douglas Acres | 2.64 | 36.8 | 17.1% | 38.7% | 6.1% | 1971 | $1,179 | 17.5% | 85.9% | 6.3% |
| Downtown Des Moines | 1.34 | 28.0 | 7.7% | 90.5% | 12.6% | 1985 | $1,283 | 67.0% | 94.4% | 4.0% |
| River Bend | 2.73 | 35.7 | 22.1% | 49.2% | 17.9% | 1944 | $934 | 9.9% | 69.0% | 4.5% |
| Indianola Hills | 2.40 | 35.8 | 17.3% | 33.8% | 11.0% | 1955 | $1,189 | 20.3% | 87.5% | 4.5% |
| Highland Park | 2.56 | 35.5 | 23.9% | 34.0% | 11.7% | 1950 | $1,054 | 11.6% | 78.9% | 6.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Yorktown, Huntington Beach, CA · West Riverside, New Orleans, LA · West Market Square Historic District, Bangor, ME · Foothill Meadows, Sparks, NV · West Side, Augusta, GA · Linwood, Milwaukie, OR · Western Michigan University-KRPH, Kalamazoo, MI · Fulton, Montrose Heights, VA · Westlake Village, Westlake Village, CA · Third World, San Antonio, 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 Fairground. 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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