West Des Moines, Iowa Income Statistics
West Des Moines Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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A
West Des Moines Above average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | West Des Moines | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $88,314 | $75,133 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $67,256 | $57,332 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 2.6% | 4.0% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 18.8% | 10.5% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 15.7% | 8.6% | 13.2% |
The median household income in West Des Moines is about 18% higher than in Iowa. Income has been growing slower in West Des Moines (2.6%/yr) than in Iowa (4.0%/yr).
About 19% of adults in West Des Moines earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the Iowa average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in West Des Moines, Iowa grew by 36.1% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $88,314 in 2024. That's an average of about 2.6% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in West Des Moines
| Metric | West Des Moines | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.495 | 0.510 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $79,163 | $66,524 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $59,214 | $52,524 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 25.2% | 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 West Des Moines, it is 0.495, 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 34% more than women's income in West Des Moines, Iowa. Over a 35-year career, a 34% wage gap accumulates to roughly $698,215 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in West Des Moines, Iowa has widened from about 24% to 25% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 25% in 2022, and was narrowest at 18% in 2018. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $6,858 since 2009.
Against the trend: the pay gap in West Des Moines widened by 1.1 points while Iowa's narrowed by 3.3 points.
Employment
| Metric | West Des Moines | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 2.5% | 3.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 19.0% | 11.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 16 | 16 | 22 |
Approximately 977 people are unemployed in West Des Moines, Iowa.
The average commute time in West Des Moines is 16 minutes, about the same as in Iowa.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in West Des Moines, Iowa has fallen from 4.4% to 2.5% in 2024. Over that period the rate fell as low as 2.1% in 2019.
West Des Moines, IA Wealth Compared With Nearby Cities
How West Des Moines, IA compares with the 1 cities closest to it.
| 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Des Moines, IA | 67,280 | $88,314 #2/2 | 2.6%/yr #2/2 | 2.5% #1/2 | 0.495 #1/2 |
| Urbandale, IA | 42,731 | $106,319 | 4.2%/yr | 3.1% | 0.499 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, West Des Moines, Iowa has an overall wealth index grade of A, making it somewhat better than Iowa, and notably better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in West Des Moines, Iowa.
How Rich Is West Des Moines, Iowa?
West Des Moines has a wealth index grade of A. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; an A grade means residents are much better off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $88,314, about 18% higher than the Iowa average of $75,133.
How fast is household income rising in West Des Moines, Iowa?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in West Des Moines, Iowa rose 36%, from $64,884 to $88,314. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Iowa as a whole: +36% against +56%.
What was the median household income in West Des Moines in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in West Des Moines, Iowa was $86,563, up 3% from $83,819 in 2022. The Iowa median that year was $73,347.
What was the median household income in West Des Moines in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in West Des Moines, Iowa was $74,092. By 2024 it had risen 19% to $88,314.
Do many residents of West Des Moines, Iowa earn over $100,000?
Yes. 19% of adults in West Des Moines, Iowa earn $100,000 or more a year (about 1 in 5), against 11% (about 1 in 9) in Iowa. 16% of households have a combined income of $200,000 or more, compared with 9% in Iowa.
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 Iowa rate of 3.6%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in West Des Moines, Iowa?
The Gini coefficient in West Des Moines is 0.495. 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 West Des Moines, Iowa?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in West Des Moines, Iowa has widened from about 24% to 25% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 25% in 2022, and was narrowest at 18% in 2018. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $6,858 since 2009.
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