Des Moines

Population: 212,464
Median household income: $63,966
Median home value: $183,700

Des Moines is a community in Polk County, Iowa, home to 212,464 residents. Its median household income of $63,966 runs below the Polk County figure of $81,621.

From 2019 to 2023, Des Moines's population declined 1.5% from 215,636 to 212,464, while its median home value rose 37.9% from $133,200 to $183,700.

Owners occupy 60.4% of the area's occupied homes. The median resident is 34.6 years old.

Demographics

ACS 2019–2023

Population: 212,464
Median age: 34.6 yrs
Median household income: $63,966
Median home value: $183,700
Median gross rent: $1,054
Housing units: 97,457
Homeownership rate: 60.4%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 29.0%
Unemployment rate: 5.7%

Trends

ACS 5-year · 2019–2023

Population

215,636212,464

Median household income

$53,525$63,966

Median home value

$133,200$183,700

Median gross rent

$855$1,054

Year	Population	Median household income	Median home value	Median gross rent
2019	215,636	$53,525	$133,200	$855
2020	215,408	$54,843	$141,300	$881
2021	213,545	$58,444	$149,700	$916
2022	213,164	$62,378	$170,700	$995
2023	212,464	$63,966	$183,700	$1,054

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

Age distribution

Under 56.8%

5 to 1716.2%

18 to 2410.7%

25 to 3417.0%

35 to 4413.0%

45 to 5411.8%

55 to 6411.9%

65 to 747.7%

75 and over4.8%

	Count	Share
Under 5	14,409	6.8%
5 to 17	34,494	16.2%
18 to 24	22,721	10.7%
25 to 34	36,149	17.0%
35 to 44	27,578	13.0%
45 to 54	25,111	11.8%
55 to 64	25,358	11.9%
65 to 74	16,396	7.7%
75 and over	10,248	4.8%

Race & ethnicity

	Count	Share
White (non-Hispanic)	131,082	61.7%
Black or African American	25,043	11.8%
American Indian & Alaska Native	243	0.1%
Asian	13,069	6.2%
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander	33	0.0%
Some other race	444	0.2%
Two or more races	8,554	4.0%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	33,996	16.0%

Educational attainment (age 25+)

No high school diploma12.7%

High school graduate29.1%

Some college or associate's29.1%

Bachelor's degree19.9%

Graduate or professional degree9.1%

	Count	Share
No high school diploma	17,956	12.7%
High school graduate	41,017	29.1%
Some college or associate's	40,970	29.1%
Bachelor's degree	28,075	19.9%
Graduate or professional degree	12,822	9.1%

Commute to work

Mean travel time to work: 20 min

Drove alone72.3%

Carpooled11.2%

Public transit1.1%

Walked2.2%

Bicycle0.4%

Worked from home11.4%

Other means1.3%

How workers get to work

	Count	Share
Drove alone	79,590	72.3%
Carpooled	12,381	11.2%
Public transit	1,266	1.1%
Walked	2,476	2.2%
Bicycle	435	0.4%
Worked from home	12,532	11.4%
Other means	1,448	1.3%

Travel time

	Count	Share
Under 15 min	32,264	33.1%
15 to 29 min	48,488	49.7%
30 to 44 min	11,655	11.9%
45 to 59 min	1,933	2.0%
60+ min	3,256	3.3%

Households

Average household size: 2.30
Poverty rate: 14.9% (30,943 of 207,905)

	Count	Share
Family households	48,264	53.6%
Nonfamily households	41,821	46.4%

Housing

Median year structure built: 1960

Occupancy

	Count	Share
Occupied	90,085	92.4%
Vacant	7,372	7.6%

Tenure (of occupied units)

	Count	Share
Owner-occupied	54,454	60.4%
Renter-occupied	35,631	39.6%

1-unit, detached61.6%

1-unit, attached3.9%

2 to 4 units5.1%

5 to 19 units8.1%

20 or more units18.6%

Mobile home & other2.8%

Units in structure

	Count	Share
1-unit, detached	60,030	61.6%
1-unit, attached	3,778	3.9%
2 to 4 units	4,952	5.1%
5 to 19 units	7,881	8.1%
20 or more units	18,117	18.6%
Mobile home & other	2,699	2.8%

Geography

Place GEOID: 1921000
Type (LSAD): 25
Land area: 88 sq mi
Water area: 2.55 sq mi
Center point: 41.5726, -93.6102