Population 3,550 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in River Bend
Household size in River Bend
| Period | River Bend | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.48 | 2.51 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.73 | 2.56 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.07 | 2.55 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.73 | 2.52 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.25 | +0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
At 2.73 people per household, River Bend sits close to the national average of 2.65. The typical household here is bigger than in the wider Des Moines area, where it has 2.52 people. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.48, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
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 River Bend
| Period | River Bend | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.6 | 36.2 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 35.7 | 36.7 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 35.0 | 37.2 | 39.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 35.7 | 37.6 | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.1 | +1.4 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
River Bend is young: half of its residents are under 35.7, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young adults and children.
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 River Bend
| Period | River Bend | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.5% | 10.2% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 23.7% | 11.1% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 26.9% | 10.9% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 22.1% | 11.2% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | +4.6 pts | +0.9 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are common in River Bend: 22.1% of all households, against 11.6% nationally. River Bend has a higher share of single-parent households than at least four in five Des Moines neighborhoods.
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 River Bend
Renters in River Bend
| Period | River Bend | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 57.1% | 27.3% | 26.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 68.4% | 29.3% | 28.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 57.4% | 30.3% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 49.2% | 30.5% | 28.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | −7.9 pts | +3.2 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is far more common in River Bend than nationally: 49.2% of households rent their homes, against 34.8%. Among homeowners, 36.0% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. River Bend has a higher share of renters than at least four in five Des Moines neighborhoods.
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 River Bend
| Period | River Bend | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.4% | 7.7% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.6% | 7.2% | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 16.5% | 7.2% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 17.9% | 7.0% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | +3.5 pts | −0.7 pts | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in River Bend: 17.9% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. River Bend has the highest vacancy rate of any Des Moines neighborhood.
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 River Bend
| Period | River Bend | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1948 | 1976 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1946 | 1977 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1950 | 1979 | 1969 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1944 | 1983 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Change | −4 | +7 | +6 | +6 |
The housing in River Bend is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1944, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. River Bend has older homes than the great majority of Des Moines neighborhoods.
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 River Bend
| Period | River Bend | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $652 | $808 | $669 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $757 | $899 | $732 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $788 | $986 | $821 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $934 | $1,210 | $1,020 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$283 | +$402 | +$351 | +$606 |
A typical rental in River Bend costs $934 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent takes 51.0% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. No other Des Moines neighborhood has lower 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 River Bend
Bachelor's degrees in River Bend
| Period | River Bend | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.7% | 33.6% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.4% | 35.5% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 5.7% | 37.1% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.9% | 40.3% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +0.2 pts | +6.6 pts | +5.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in River Bend: 9.9% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. River Bend has the lowest share of college graduates of any Des Moines neighborhood.
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 River Bend
| Period | River Bend | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 69.8% | 91.9% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 68.4% | 92.8% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 60.7% | 92.7% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 69.0% | 92.9% | 93.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | −0.8 pts | +1.0 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
Just over three in ten adults in River Bend never finished high school, well above the national share: only 69.0% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. River Bend has the lowest 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 River Bend
| Period | River Bend | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.1% | 4.8% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 13.5% | 5.4% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 12.1% | 3.8% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.5% | 4.5% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −5.6 pts | −0.3 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in River Bend than nationally: unemployment was 4.5%, against 5.4%. That is in line with the rest of the Des Moines area. 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).
River Bend 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| River Bend | 2.73 | 35.7 | 22.1% | 49.2% | 17.9% | 1944 | $934 | 9.9% | 69.0% | 4.5% |
| 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% |
| Downtown Des Moines | 1.34 | 28.0 | 7.7% | 90.5% | 12.6% | 1985 | $1,283 | 67.0% | 94.4% | 4.0% |
| Drake | 2.21 | 28.2 | 10.4% | 55.9% | 9.2% | 1944 | $1,140 | 38.4% | 87.5% | 7.0% |
| Oak Park | 2.24 | 39.9 | 24.5% | 20.5% | 9.4% | 1943 | $1,207 | 24.1% | 85.7% | 1.6% |
| Highland Park | 2.56 | 35.5 | 23.9% | 34.0% | 11.7% | 1950 | $1,054 | 11.6% | 78.9% | 6.5% |
| Beaverdale | 1.99 | 42.0 | 6.5% | 24.1% | 7.7% | 1944 | $1,253 | 48.7% | 95.1% | 6.4% |
| Lower Beaver | 2.37 | 36.4 | 18.0% | 26.3% | 7.5% | 1962 | $1,460 | 34.0% | 87.0% | 2.2% |
| Fairmont Park | 2.41 | 37.8 | 13.5% | 31.9% | 11.8% | 1954 | $1,248 | 13.3% | 89.4% | 5.8% |
| Fairground | 2.74 | 33.4 | 18.6% | 19.6% | 10.2% | 1940 | $1,117 | 14.8% | 78.5% | 8.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Floral Park, Butte, MT · Troutman Park, Fort Collins, CO · Tireman, Detroit, MI · Thornhill, Mobile, AL · Tampa International Airport Area, Tampa, FL · Sun Gate, San Antonio, TX · Greater Oakhill, Evansville, IN · Ghent Square, Norfolk, VA · Gateway Center, Sacramento, CA · Frye Circle, Andover, MA
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 River Bend. 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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