Population 5,136 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Meredith
Household size in Meredith
| Period | Meredith | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.53 | 2.51 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.54 | 2.56 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.67 | 2.55 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.57 | 2.52 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.04 | +0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Meredith run a little small, averaging 2.57 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Since 2006–10, household size has crept up from 2.53, even as the national average fell. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the east.
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 Meredith
| Period | Meredith | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 34.3 | 36.2 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 34.8 | 36.7 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 39.1 | 37.2 | 39.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 36.0 | 37.6 | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.6 | +1.4 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
Meredith is young: half of its residents are under 36.0, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young adults, many of them living alone or as couples. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 34.3, in line with the national trend.
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 Meredith
| Period | Meredith | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.7% | 10.2% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 16.3% | 11.1% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 18.6% | 10.9% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.7% | 11.2% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | −12.0 pts | +0.9 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in ten households in Meredith (10.7%), close to the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has fallen 12.0 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Meredith
Renters in Meredith
| Period | Meredith | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.8% | 27.3% | 26.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 42.9% | 29.3% | 28.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 33.3% | 30.3% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 44.9% | 30.5% | 28.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | +4.1 pts | +3.2 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is far more common in Meredith than nationally: 44.9% of households rent their homes, against 34.8%. More than a quarter of owners (27.5%) have paid off their mortgages, well below the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the southeast. The renter share is up 4.1 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Meredith
| Period | Meredith | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.8% | 7.7% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.6% | 7.2% | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.4% | 7.2% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 11.5% | 7.0% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | +4.7 pts | −0.7 pts | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy runs a little high in Meredith: 11.5% of homes are empty, against 9.6% nationally. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Vacancy has risen 4.7 points since 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 Meredith
| Period | Meredith | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1975 | 1976 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1976 | 1977 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1977 | 1979 | 1969 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1973 | 1983 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Change | −2 | +7 | +6 | +6 |
Homes in Meredith run older than the national norm, with a median build year of 1973 against 1980. Newer construction is concentrated in the northwest, while the southeast has the oldest housing. Compared with other Des Moines neighborhoods, though, Meredith has newer homes than most.
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 Meredith
| Period | Meredith | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $807 | $808 | $669 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $898 | $899 | $732 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,027 | $986 | $821 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,185 | $1,210 | $1,020 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$378 | +$402 | +$351 | +$606 |
Rent in Meredith runs $1,185 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $378 a month since 2006–10, up 47%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 27.1% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
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 Meredith
Bachelor's degrees in Meredith
| Period | Meredith | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.9% | 33.6% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 29.1% | 35.5% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 28.1% | 37.1% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 31.7% | 40.3% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +0.9 pts | +6.6 pts | +5.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
Nearly a third of adults 25 and older in Meredith (31.7%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, a little below the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has edged up 0.9 points, a smaller shift than nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the northwest and least in the center.
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 Meredith
| Period | Meredith | 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 | 88.4% | 92.7% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 88.4% | 92.9% | 93.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | −8.2 pts | +1.0 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Meredith is close to the national rate: 88.4% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in the Des Moines area as a whole (92.9%). The share with a diploma is down 8.2 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate rose.
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 Meredith
| Period | Meredith | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.8% | 4.8% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.6% | 5.4% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.7% | 3.8% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.3% | 4.5% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | +1.5 pts | −0.3 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Meredith has been strong: just 3.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Only two of Des Moines' 22 neighborhoods have lower unemployment. Unemployment has edged up 1.5 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
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).
Meredith 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meredith | 2.57 | 36.0 | 10.7% | 44.9% | 11.5% | 1973 | $1,185 | 31.7% | 88.4% | 3.3% |
| Lower Beaver | 2.37 | 36.4 | 18.0% | 26.3% | 7.5% | 1962 | $1,460 | 34.0% | 87.0% | 2.2% |
| Merle Hay | 2.08 | 40.8 | 9.7% | 25.5% | 6.0% | 1955 | $1,228 | 35.3% | 93.7% | 4.4% |
| Beaverdale | 1.99 | 42.0 | 6.5% | 24.1% | 7.7% | 1944 | $1,253 | 48.7% | 95.1% | 6.4% |
| Oak Park | 2.24 | 39.9 | 24.5% | 20.5% | 9.4% | 1943 | $1,207 | 24.1% | 85.7% | 1.6% |
| Drake | 2.21 | 28.2 | 10.4% | 55.9% | 9.2% | 1944 | $1,140 | 38.4% | 87.5% | 7.0% |
| 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% |
| 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% |
| Downtown Des Moines | 1.34 | 28.0 | 7.7% | 90.5% | 12.6% | 1985 | $1,283 | 67.0% | 94.4% | 4.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Ardmore, Winston-Salem, NC · Yorkshire Woods, Detroit, MI · Woodcreek Oaks, Roseville, CA · Whitman Park, Camden, NJ · Western Corridor, Green Bay, WI · Village West, Fargo, ND · Ventura, San Antonio, TX · Central Oak Park, Sacramento, CA · Candlewood Park, San Antonio, TX · Bystrom, Modesto, CA
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 Meredith. 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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