Des Moines County, Iowa Income Statistics
Des Moines County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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C
Des Moines County Below averageLess wealthy than 80% of counties in Iowa
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Des Moines County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $63,600 | $75,133 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $49,463 | $57,332 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.6% | 4.0% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 7.0% | 10.5% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 5.1% | 8.6% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Des Moines County is about 15% lower than in Iowa. Income has been growing faster in Des Moines County (4.6%/yr) than in Iowa (4.0%/yr).
About 7% of adults in Des Moines County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Iowa average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Des Moines County, Iowa grew by 50.3% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $63,600 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.6% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Des Moines County
| Metric | Des Moines County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.499 | 0.510 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $59,070 | $66,524 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $43,507 | $52,524 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 26.3% | 21.0% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Des Moines County, it is 0.499, lower than Iowa's 0.510, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 36% more than women's income in Des Moines County, Iowa. Over a 35-year career, a 36% wage gap accumulates to roughly $544,705 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Des Moines County, Iowa has narrowed from about 29% to 26% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 31% in 2011, and was narrowest at 23% in 2016. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,396 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Des Moines County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.1% | 3.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 4.2% | 11.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 13 | 16 | 22 |
Approximately 596 people are unemployed in Des Moines County, Iowa.
The average commute time in Des Moines County is 13 minutes, shorter than the 16 minutes in Iowa.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Des Moines County, Iowa has fallen from 8.1% to 3.1% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 8.5% in 2013 and fell as low as 2.9% in 2022.
Des Moines County, IA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Des Moines County, IA is the largest of the 6 counties compared here, 38,487 residents against a local median of 17,281. The measure that sets Des Moines County, IA apart most is unemployment: 3.1%, 27% below the local median of 4.2%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 6.3% on unemployment, so Des Moines County, IA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Des Moines County, IA has the 3rd lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines County, IA | 38,487 | $63,600 #4/6 | 4.6%/yr #2/6 | 3.1% #3/6 | 0.499 #3/6 |
| Henderson County, IL | 6,193 | $62,794 | 4.0%/yr | 7.8% | 0.488 |
| Louisa County, IA | 10,678 | $77,267 | 5.1%/yr | 3.0% | 0.496 |
| Henry County, IA | 20,002 | $67,907 | 4.0%/yr | 1.5% | 0.538 |
| Lee County, IA | 32,893 | $62,330 | 4.3%/yr | 4.4% | 0.519 |
| Hancock County, IL | 17,281 | $65,991 | 3.5%/yr | 4.2% | 0.514 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Des Moines County, Iowa has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with Iowa, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Des Moines County, Iowa.
How Rich Is Des Moines County, Iowa?
Des Moines County has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $63,600, about 15% lower than the Iowa average of $75,133.
Are incomes growing in Des Moines County, Iowa?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Des Moines County, Iowa rose 50%, from $42,309 to $63,600. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Iowa as a whole: +50% against +56%.
What was the median household income in Des Moines County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Des Moines County, Iowa was $60,764, up 5% from $57,994 in 2022. The Iowa median that year was $73,347.
What was the median household income in Des Moines County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Des Moines County, Iowa was $52,289. By 2024 it had risen 22% to $63,600.
What is the Gini coefficient in Des Moines County, Iowa?
The Gini coefficient in Des Moines County is 0.499. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Des Moines County, Iowa?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Des Moines County, Iowa has narrowed from about 29% to 26% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 31% in 2011, and was narrowest at 23% in 2016. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,396 since 2009.
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