West Des Moines, Iowa Demographics
Population trends, housing costs, income, commuting, and health, all on one page.
West Des Moines, IA Population Density Map and Area Scores
Area Score
Health, income and education, each graded from F to A+. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
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A
Health Above average
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A
Income Above average
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A+
Education Top grade
Source: Map AI Methodology
Population
| Metric | West Des Moines | Iowa Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 67,280 | 3,204,793 | 337,468,954 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 1388.1 | 57.0 | 86.4 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 1.44% | 0.41% | 0.59% |
| Median age | 36.4 | 36.8 | 37.3 |
| Households | 30,446 | 1,308,457 | 130,235,071 |
Population in West Des Moines grew by 18.0% from 2009 to 2024, reaching 67,280 in 2024.
Population Growth 2009–2024
Race & Ethnicity
Age & Sex
The largest generation in West Des Moines is Millennials, aged 29–44, at 24.5% of residents. That is 4.0 points above Iowa as a whole.
- Gen Z 13–28 15,257 22.7% +0.4 pts
- Millennials 29–44 16,453 24.5% +4.0 pts
- Gen X 45–60 12,871 19.1% +0.2 pts
- Boomers 61–79 9,518 14.1% -3.5 pts
Residents by birth cohort, from the 2025 age distribution. The right-hand figure is how far each cohort's share sits above or below Iowa, in percentage points. Children younger than Gen Z and the generations before the Boomers are counted in the population but not shown here, so these shares do not add up to 100%.
Male and female share
Women are 49.7% of the people living in West Des Moines and men 50.3%.
- Women 49.7% Iowa 50.0%
- Men 50.3% Iowa 50.0%
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Economy
West Des Moines has a the economy index of A, which means it is very prosperous.
| Metric | West Des Moines | Iowa Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $88,314 | $75,133 | $80,455 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 2.63% | 3.99% | 4.80% |
| Unemployment rate | 2.5% | 3.6% | 5.2% |
The median household income in West Des Moines is about 18% higher than in Iowa.
Housing
| Metric | West Des Moines | Iowa Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $222,746 | $153,425 | $248,835 |
| Median rent | $1,235 | $971 | $1,407 |
| Homeownership rate | 57.8% | 71.7% | 65.2% |
The median home price in West Des Moines is about 15.0 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $1,235 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in West Des Moines spend about 34 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 141 hours, about 5.9 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | West Des Moines | Iowa Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 17.0 | 17.0 | 22.4 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 34.0 | 33.9 | 44.8 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 141 | 141 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $4,386 | $4,382 | $5,790 |
| Work from home | 19.0% | 11.3% | 15.0% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 19,590 | 4,993 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 3,540 | 606 | 1,355 |
The average commute time in West Des Moines is about the same as 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
West Des Moines has a education index of A+, which means it is exceptionally educated.
| Metric | West Des Moines | Iowa Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 51.8% | 27.9% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.19 | 2.37 | 2.53 |
Health
West Des Moines has a health index of A, which means it is very healthy.
| Metric | West Des Moines | Iowa Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 81.5 | 79.2 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 9.4% | 13.6% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 12.9% | 17.6% | 19.0% |
West Des Moines, IA Compared With Nearby Cities
How West Des Moines, IA compares with the 1 cities closest to it.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Median home price | Commute |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Des Moines, IA | 67,280 | $88,314 #2/2 | $222,746 #2/2 | 17.0 min #1/2 |
| Urbandale, IA | 42,731 | $106,319 | $281,186 | 17.8 min |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about West Des Moines, Iowa.
What is the population of West Des Moines, Iowa?
About 67,280 people live in West Des Moines, Iowa, in 30,446 households of 2.2 people on average. The median age is 36.4, close to the U.S. median of 37.3.
Is West Des Moines, Iowa mostly urban or rural?
Averaged over its land area, West Des Moines, Iowa has 1,388 people per square mile, a density typical of urban and suburban areas. That is about 16 times the U.S. average of 86.
How affordable is housing in West Des Moines, Iowa?
The median home costs 2.5 times the median household income ($222,746 against $88,314), compared with 3.1 times nationally. That is within the traditional rule of thumb of about 3 times income. Median rent of $1,235 a month takes about 17% of the median household's income, below the 30% level at which HUD considers renters cost-burdened.
Is it hard to find a job in West Des Moines, Iowa?
Unemployment in West Des Moines, Iowa is only 2.5%, well below the U.S. rate of 5.2%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
How educated are people in West Des Moines, Iowa?
51.8% of adults in West Des Moines, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher (about 5 in 10), well above the U.S. share of 31.6%.
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