Des Moines, IA Local Data & Statistics

State: IA

Total population: 212,421 Household income: $65,932 Rent: $1,090

Overview

Total population

212,421

Rent

$1,090

Year built

1961

Household income

$65,932

Per capita income

$37,863

Poverty rate

15%

Unemployment rate

3.6%

Household size

2.3 persons

Rent over 30% of income

46.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Iowa

Total population

212,421

Adults over 25

140,200

Total households

90,105

Household size

2.3 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$65,932

Per capita income

$37,863

Poverty rate

15%

Unemployment rate

3.6%

Rent over 30% of income

46.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,090

Year built

1961

Households that rent

39.5%

Households that own

60.5%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.1

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

64.1%

Black

11.3%

Asian

6.6%

Two or more races

11%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

16.3%

Not Hispanic or Latino

83.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

86.9%

Commute time to work

19 mins

Work from home

13.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

30.5%

High school graduate or GED

28.3%

Some college or associate degree

11.5%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

29.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Des Moines, IA with: Iowa United States

Des Moines, IA

Total population212,421

Rent$1,090

Year built1961

Household income$65,932

Per capita income$37,863

Poverty rate15%

Unemployment rate3.6%

Iowa State

Total population3,210,507

Rent$972

Year built1972

Household income$75,059

Per capita income$40,877

Poverty rate11.1%

Unemployment rate3%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityDes Moines, IA	StateIowa	CountryUnited States
Total population	212,421	3,210,507	334,922,499
Rent	$1,090	$972	$1,413
Year built	1961	1972	1980
Household income	$65,932	$75,059	$80,734
Per capita income	$37,863	$40,877	$44,673
Poverty rate	15%	11.1%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	3.6%	3%	4%

View the complete comparison of Des Moines, IA, Iowa and United States →

Summary for Des Moines, IA

Des Moines is located in Iowa.

Rent & Income

In Des Moines, the typical monthly rent is $1,090 and the typical household income is $65,932. Rent here is higher than Iowa and lower than the U.S., and household income is lower than both Iowa and the U.S. The estimated poverty rate is 15%, which is higher than in both Iowa and national.

Housing & Affordability

This area is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 39.5% of households. About 46.6% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is moderate, with about 29.7% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 3.6%, which is higher than Iowa and lower than the national rate.

Des Moines, IA — Rent vs Household Income

Des Moines, IA — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Des Moines, IA compares in Iowa (11 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$1,090	8 / 11	from lower rent	$923 – $1,319
Household income	$65,932	6 / 11	from higher income	$57,480 – $108,198
Poverty rate	15%	5 / 11	from lower poverty	4.2% – 26.3%
Unemployment rate	3.6%	9 / 11	from lower unemployment	2% – 4.7%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Iowa with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Des Moines, IA

Rent

Rent prices put Des Moines in 8th place among 11 large communities in Iowa. Across Iowa, rents range from $923 in Waterloo, IA up to $1,319 in Ankeny, IA.

Household income

In terms of household income, Des Moines comes in 6th among 11 major places. Across Iowa, income levels vary from $57,480 in Waterloo, IA to $108,198 in Ankeny, IA.

Poverty rate

In poverty comparisons, Des Moines ranks 5th out of 11 large places. Statewide rates vary from 4.2% in Ankeny, IA to 26.3% in Iowa City, IA.

Unemployment rate

For joblessness, Des Moines ranks 9th out of 11 significant areas. Across Iowa, unemployment varies from 2% in Ames, IA to 4.7% in Waterloo, IA.

💰 Rent in Des Moines, IA (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,090 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Des Moines, IA

Annual Household Income: $65,932

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Des Moines, IA

Estimated Rate: 15%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Des Moines, IA

In Des Moines, IA, households that rent: 35,599 (39.5%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	35,599	39.5%
Owner-Occupied	54,506	60.5%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Des Moines, IA

In Des Moines, IA, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 16,586 (46.6%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	16,586	46.6%
Other renter households	19,013	53.4%
Total renter households	35,599	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Des Moines, IA

Less than High School: 42,752 people (30.5%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 39,673 people (28.3%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 16,107 people (11.5%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 41,668 people (29.7%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 140,200

📊 Unemployment Rate in Des Moines, IA

Estimated Rate: 3.6%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Fontana, CA211,921 Moreno Valley, CA210,378 Frisco, TX210,238 Rochester, NY209,720 Fayetteville, NC209,692 Yonkers, NY209,529 Cape Coral, FL206,387 Modesto, CA218,614 Huntsville, AL218,814 Worcester, MA205,501

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.