Des Moines County vs Wapello County
A side-by-side comparison of Des Moines County and Wapello County: population, income, housing, and more.
Des Moines County and Wapello County are counties in Iowa. This page compares them across population, income, housing, education, commuting, and how each has changed since 2019.
Des Moines County has the higher population (38,597 vs 35,265 in Wapello County). Des Moines County has the higher median household income ($60,662 vs $60,034 in Wapello County). Des Moines County has the higher median home value ($137,000 vs $112,900 in Wapello County).
Population, income & housing
| Des Moines County | Wapello County | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 38,597 | 35,265 |
| Median age | 42.2 yrs | 39.9 yrs |
| Median household income | $60,662 | $60,034 |
| Median home value | $137,000 | $112,900 |
| Median gross rent | $908 | $950 |
| Housing units | 18,778 | 15,740 |
| Homeownership rate | 72.7% | 67.4% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.8% | 19.4% |
| Unemployment rate | 3.2% | 3.7% |
Trends (ACS 5-year, 2019–2023)
| Des Moines County | Wapello County | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 39,386 → 38,597 (-2.0%) | 35,141 → 35,265 (+0.4%) |
| Median household income | $51,267 → $60,662 (+18.3%) | $46,246 → $60,034 (+29.8%) |
| Median home value | $108,500 → $137,000 (+26.3%) | $82,100 → $112,900 (+37.5%) |
| Median gross rent | $778 → $908 (+16.7%) | $718 → $950 (+32.3%) |
Des Moines County
39,38638,597
$51,267$60,662
$108,500$137,000
$778$908
Wapello County
35,14135,265
$46,246$60,034
$82,100$112,900
$718$950
Age & race/ethnicity
Age distribution (share)
| Des Moines County | Wapello County | |
|---|---|---|
| Under 5 | 5.6% | 5.9% |
| 5 to 17 | 16.3% | 17.7% |
| 18 to 24 | 8.3% | 8.2% |
| 25 to 34 | 11.4% | 12.4% |
| 35 to 44 | 12.0% | 12.0% |
| 45 to 54 | 11.4% | 12.4% |
| 55 to 64 | 13.9% | 13.3% |
| 65 to 74 | 12.4% | 10.7% |
| 75 and over | 8.7% | 7.3% |
Race & ethnicity (share)
| Des Moines County | Wapello County | |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 85.2% | 77.3% |
| Black or African American | 4.2% | 3.1% |
| American Indian & Alaska Native | 0.1% | 0.0% |
| Asian | 1.1% | 1.3% |
| Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander | 0.0% | 2.0% |
| Some other race | 0.1% | 0.0% |
| Two or more races | 5.8% | 3.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 3.5% | 12.6% |
Educational attainment (age 25+)
Share of adults 25+
| Des Moines County | Wapello County | |
|---|---|---|
| No high school diploma | 6.0% | 12.3% |
| High school graduate | 36.3% | 38.1% |
| Some college or associate's | 33.9% | 30.2% |
| Bachelor's degree | 15.8% | 11.8% |
| Graduate or professional degree | 8.0% | 7.6% |
Commute to work
How workers get to work (share)
| Des Moines County | Wapello County | |
|---|---|---|
| Drove alone | 81.9% | 79.1% |
| Carpooled | 10.0% | 12.6% |
| Public transit | 0.7% | 0.4% |
| Walked | 1.8% | 1.7% |
| Bicycle | 0.2% | 0.0% |
| Worked from home | 4.3% | 4.6% |
| Other means | 1.1% | 1.7% |
Housing
Units in structure (share)
| Des Moines County | Wapello County | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-unit, detached | 78.3% | 78.1% |
| 1-unit, attached | 2.9% | 1.9% |
| 2 to 4 units | 6.6% | 4.9% |
| 5 to 19 units | 4.9% | 7.1% |
| 20 or more units | 3.5% | 4.0% |
| Mobile home & other | 3.8% | 4.0% |
Poverty & households
| Des Moines County | Wapello County | |
|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 14.1% | 16.7% |
| Average household size | 2.21 | 2.44 |
| Mean commute (minutes) | 19 | 20 |
| Median year structure built | 1958 | 1958 |
Full profiles
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