Des Moines County, Iowa

11 cities & places have their primary county here.

Population: 38,597
Median household income: $60,662
Median home value: $137,000

Home to 38,597 residents, Des Moines County is one of Iowa's counties. 11 cities and places have their primary county here. The median household income of $60,662 is below the Iowa median ($73,147).

Between 2019 and 2023, Des Moines County's population declined 2.0% from 39,386 to 38,597, while its median household income rose 18.3% from $51,267 to $60,662.

Households average 2.21 people. The median gross rent is $908.

Demographics

ACS 2019–2023

Population: 38,597
Median age: 42.2 yrs
Median household income: $60,662
Median home value: $137,000
Median gross rent: $908
Housing units: 18,778
Homeownership rate: 72.7%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 23.8%
Unemployment rate: 3.2%

Trends

ACS 5-year · 2019–2023

Population

39,38638,597

Median household income

$51,267$60,662

Median home value

$108,500$137,000

Median gross rent

$778$908

Year	Population	Median household income	Median home value	Median gross rent
2019	39,386	$51,267	$108,500	$778
2020	39,227	$51,784	$111,600	$808
2021	39,069	$54,318	$119,800	$826
2022	38,824	$58,084	$135,300	$882
2023	38,597	$60,662	$137,000	$908

Each year is a US Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimate ending that year.

Age distribution

Under 55.6%

5 to 1716.3%

18 to 248.3%

25 to 3411.4%

35 to 4412.0%

45 to 5411.4%

55 to 6413.9%

65 to 7412.4%

75 and over8.7%

	Count	Share
Under 5	2,154	5.6%
5 to 17	6,290	16.3%
18 to 24	3,198	8.3%
25 to 34	4,409	11.4%
35 to 44	4,634	12.0%
45 to 54	4,418	11.4%
55 to 64	5,350	13.9%
65 to 74	4,800	12.4%
75 and over	3,344	8.7%

Race & ethnicity

	Count	Share
White (non-Hispanic)	32,877	85.2%
Black or African American	1,610	4.2%
American Indian & Alaska Native	36	0.1%
Asian	439	1.1%
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander	1	0.0%
Some other race	36	0.1%
Two or more races	2,247	5.8%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	1,351	3.5%

Educational attainment (age 25+)

No high school diploma6.0%

High school graduate36.3%

Some college or associate's33.9%

Bachelor's degree15.8%

Graduate or professional degree8.0%

	Count	Share
No high school diploma	1,627	6.0%
High school graduate	9,773	36.3%
Some college or associate's	9,130	33.9%
Bachelor's degree	4,269	15.8%
Graduate or professional degree	2,156	8.0%

Commute to work

Mean travel time to work: 19 min

Drove alone81.9%

Carpooled10.0%

Public transit0.7%

Walked1.8%

Bicycle0.2%

Worked from home4.3%

Other means1.1%

How workers get to work

	Count	Share
Drove alone	14,926	81.9%
Carpooled	1,829	10.0%
Public transit	120	0.7%
Walked	327	1.8%
Bicycle	29	0.2%
Worked from home	786	4.3%
Other means	202	1.1%

Travel time

	Count	Share
Under 15 min	9,060	52.0%
15 to 29 min	5,363	30.8%
30 to 44 min	1,595	9.1%
45 to 59 min	610	3.5%
60+ min	805	4.6%

Households

Average household size: 2.21
Poverty rate: 14.1% (5,354 of 37,872)

	Count	Share
Family households	10,281	59.8%
Nonfamily households	6,907	40.2%

Housing

Median year structure built: 1958

Occupancy

	Count	Share
Occupied	17,188	91.5%
Vacant	1,590	8.5%

Tenure (of occupied units)

	Count	Share
Owner-occupied	12,495	72.7%
Renter-occupied	4,693	27.3%

1-unit, detached78.3%

1-unit, attached2.9%

2 to 4 units6.6%

5 to 19 units4.9%

20 or more units3.5%

Mobile home & other3.8%

Units in structure

	Count	Share
1-unit, detached	14,696	78.3%
1-unit, attached	549	2.9%
2 to 4 units	1,240	6.6%
5 to 19 units	927	4.9%
20 or more units	659	3.5%
Mobile home & other	707	3.8%

Geography

County GEOID: 19057
State: Iowa
Land area: 416 sq mi
Water area: 14 sq mi
Center point: 40.9153, -91.1869