Des Moines County, IA Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Des Moines County | Iowa Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 38,309 | 3,182,597 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 89.2 | 56.6 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | -0.55% | 0.40% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 43.7 | 36.8 | 37.1 |
| Households | 17,188 | 1,299,956 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Des Moines County declined by 5.2% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 38,597 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Des Moines County has a the economy index of C, which means it is somewhat prosperous.
| Metric | Des Moines County | Iowa Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $60,764 | $73,286 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 4.55% | 4.22% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 3.2% | 3.6% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Des Moines County is about 17% lower than in Iowa.
Housing
| Metric | Des Moines County | Iowa Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $99,473 | $143,535 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $908 | $948 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 72.7% | 71.5% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Des Moines County is about 9.1 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $908 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Des Moines County spend about 27 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 114 hours, about 4.8 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Des Moines County | Iowa Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 13.7 | 17.0 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 27.4 | 33.9 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 114 | 141 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $3,537 | $4,383 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 4.3% | 10.4% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 2,506 | 4,993 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 310 | 606 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Iowa:
Cass County (8.9 min), Sioux County (10.0 min), Carroll County (10.7 min).
Slowest:
Monroe County (27.8 min), Madison County (27.3 min), Harrison County (27.0 min).
The average commute time in Des Moines County is 14 minutes, shorter than the 17 minutes in Iowa.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Des Moines County has a education index of D, which means it is barely educated.
| Metric | Des Moines County | Iowa Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.6% | 27.8% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.20 | 2.37 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
Iowa:
Johnson County (0.4), Dallas County (0.4), Story County (0.4).
Lowest:
Crawford County (0.2), Wayne County (0.2), Louisa County (0.2).
Health
Des Moines County has a health index of B, which means it is quite healthy.
| Metric | Des Moines County | Iowa Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 78.5 | 79.2 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 14.6% | 13.6% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 20.1% | 17.6% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Iowa:
Johnson County (0.8), Story County (0.8), Winneshiek County (0.8).
Lowest:
Davis County (0.8), Wayne County (0.8), Appanoose County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Des Moines County, Iowa.
What is the population of Des Moines County, Iowa?
The population of Des Moines County, Iowa is 38,309, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Des Moines County, Iowa?
The population density of Des Moines County, Iowa is 89.2 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Des Moines County, Iowa?
The median household income in Des Moines County, Iowa is $60,764, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Des Moines County, Iowa?
The median home price in Des Moines County, Iowa is $99,473, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Des Moines County, Iowa?
The unemployment rate in Des Moines County, Iowa is 3.2%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.