Population 69,384 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in West Des Moines
Household size in West Des Moines
| Period | West Des Moines | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.37 | 2.51 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.41 | 2.56 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.30 | 2.55 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.30 | 2.52 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.07 | +0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
West Des Moines is a place of small households, averaging 2.30 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.37, mirroring the country. Households are largest in the center and smallest in the southwest.
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 West Des Moines
| Period | West Des Moines | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.3 | 36.2 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 36.2 | 36.7 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 37.9 | 37.2 | 39.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 37.8 | 37.6 | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.5 | +1.4 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
West Des Moines is a little younger than the country as a whole: its median age is 37.8, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 35.3, mirroring the country. Residents skew youngest in the southwest and oldest in the southeast.
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 West Des Moines
| Period | West Des Moines | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.9% | 10.2% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.2% | 11.1% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.2% | 10.9% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.1% | 11.2% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.1 pts | +0.9 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in West Des Moines: 8.1% of households, against 11.6% nationally. West Des Moines has a lower share of single-parent households than most Iowa cities.
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 West Des Moines
Renters in West Des Moines
| Period | West Des Moines | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 34.9% | 27.3% | 26.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 39.0% | 29.3% | 28.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 38.2% | 30.3% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 42.2% | 30.5% | 28.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | +7.3 pts | +3.2 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Just over four in ten households in West Des Moines rent their homes (42.2%), above the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 34.8% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 7.3 points, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only three of the 98 Iowa cities with 5,000+ people 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 West Des Moines
| Period | West Des Moines | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.9% | 7.7% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 6.6% | 7.2% | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.4% | 7.2% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.7% | 7.0% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | −0.7 pts | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in West Des Moines: 6.7% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. The picture is much the same across the Des Moines area. Vacancy has edged down 1.2 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 West Des Moines
| Period | West Des Moines | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1987 | 1976 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1988 | 1977 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1989 | 1979 | 1969 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1991 | 1983 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +7 | +6 | +6 |
Much of the housing in West Des Moines is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1991, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1987 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the southwest, the oldest in the east.
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 West Des Moines
| Period | West Des Moines | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $869 | $808 | $669 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $954 | $899 | $732 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,091 | $986 | $821 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,311 | $1,210 | $1,020 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$442 | +$402 | +$351 | +$606 |
The median renter in West Des Moines pays $1,311 a month for rent and utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Locally, though, rents here are higher than in the wider Des Moines area ($1,210). Rents are up $442 a month from 2006–10, a 51% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 27.3% 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 West Des Moines
Bachelor's degrees in West Des Moines
| Period | West Des Moines | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 52.3% | 33.6% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 53.6% | 35.5% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 55.8% | 37.1% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 55.7% | 40.3% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.4 pts | +6.6 pts | +5.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
West Des Moines is highly educated: more than half of adults 25 and older (55.7%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 3.4 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Of the 98 Iowa cities with 5,000+ people, only six 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 West Des Moines
| Period | West Des Moines | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 95.7% | 91.9% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 96.3% | 92.8% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 95.7% | 92.7% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.9% | 92.9% | 93.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.2 pts | +1.0 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in West Des Moines: 95.9% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Compared with other Iowa cities, West Des Moines has a higher share of high school graduates than most.
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 West Des Moines
| Period | West Des Moines | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.8% | 4.8% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.2% | 5.4% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.3% | 3.8% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.6% | 4.5% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | −0.3 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in West Des Moines has been low: just 2.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment is down 1.2 points from 2006–10, 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).
West Des Moines 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Des Moines | 2.30 | 37.8 | 8.1% | 42.2% | 6.7% | 1991 | $1,311 | 55.7% | 95.9% | 2.6% |
| Clive | 2.77 | 39.0 | 11.7% | 28.6% | 5.3% | 1995 | $1,489 | 57.6% | 95.1% | 4.0% |
| Windsor Heights | 2.37 | 43.4 | 10.0% | 24.1% | 10.6% | 1960 | $1,539 | 45.5% | 98.3% | 2.0% |
| Urbandale | 2.58 | 40.3 | 7.8% | 24.1% | 6.5% | 1989 | $1,300 | 51.1% | 93.8% | 2.9% |
| Waukee | 2.52 | 35.5 | 10.4% | 31.0% | 4.7% | 2008 | $1,424 | 58.4% | 95.6% | 3.1% |
| Booneville | 2.52 | 39.3 | 12.0% | 23.2% | 5.0% | 2011 | $1,235 | 62.1% | 96.5% | 2.3% |
| Cumming | 2.85 | 45.8 | 4.9% | 5.1% | 4.1% | 1994 | $1,112 | 43.0% | 97.2% | 1.0% |
| Johnston | 2.80 | 38.5 | 11.3% | 29.0% | 5.6% | 2003 | $1,493 | 57.4% | 96.3% | 2.9% |
| Grimes | 2.71 | 35.5 | 8.2% | 27.3% | 2.7% | 2007 | $1,187 | 54.3% | 99.2% | 1.8% |
| Des Moines area | 2.52 | 37.6 | 11.2% | 30.5% | 7.0% | 1983 | $1,210 | 40.3% | 92.9% | 4.5% |
| Norwalk | 2.53 | 39.3 | 11.5% | 15.9% | 4.0% | 1996 | $909 | 37.5% | 97.3% | 3.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Tunnel Springs, AL · Tunstall, VA · Turpin, OK · Tucker, MO · Tustin, CA · Tyro, KS · Troy, NY · Turnerville, GA · Tulsa, OK · Turney, 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 West Des Moines. 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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