City

West Des Moines, IA

2 ZIP codes  ·  Polk County  ·  Iowa

👥69,831Population
💰$84,953Median HH Income▲ 11% above avg
🎂36.5Median Age
🏠$297,877Median Home Value≈ Avg
🎓65.1%College Grads▲ 68% above avg
📊2.4%Unemployment▼ 50% below avg
People & Population (ACS 2023 — weighted avg)
♂ Male 50.1% Female 50.0% ♀

Race & Ethnicity

White: 78.3%Hispanic: 6.1%Black: 3.6%Asian: 7.3%Other: 4.4%Race
White78.3%
Hispanic6.1%
Black3.6%
Asian7.3%
Other4.4%

Age Breakdown

Under 5
6%
5–17
15%
18–24
9%
25–44
32%
45–64
24%
65+
6%

Key Indicators

Median Age36.5 yrs
Avg HH Size2.19
Below Poverty7.2% ▼ 28% below avg
College Grads65.1% ▲ 68% above avg
Unemployment2.4% ▼ 50% below avg
No HS Diploma232 (0.5%)
HS Graduate7,209 (15.4%)
Some College3,689 (7.9%)
Associates5,130 (11%)
Bachelors4,793 (10.3%)
Graduate Degree25,703 (55%)

Education

No HS: 0.5%HS Grad: 15.4%Some College: 7.9%Associates: 11%Bachelors: 10.3%Graduate: 55%Edu
No HS0.5%
HS Grad15.4%
Some College7.9%
Associates11.0%
Bachelors10.3%
Graduate55.0%
Housing & Income

Housing Tenure

Owner: 57.6%Renter: 42.4%Tenure
Owner57.6%
Renter42.4%

Home Value Distribution

Under $50k
2%
$50k–$100k
2%
$100k–$150k
7%
$150k–$200k
11%
$200k–$300k
33%
$300k–$500k
32%
Over $500k
13%

Financials

Median HH Income$84,953 ▲ 11% above avg
Median Home Value$297,877 ≈ Avg
Home/Income Ratio3.5x (nat avg ~3.5x)
Median Rent$1,181/mo
Total Housing Units33,585
Vacant Units1,780

Income Distribution

Under $25k
10%
$25k–$50k
15%
$50k–$75k
17%
$75k–$100k
15%
$100k–$150k
18%
$150k–$200k
11%
Over $200k
15%
Employment & Commute

How People Get to Work

Drove Alone
79%
Public Transit
0%
Walked
1%
Work From Home
19%

Commute Time

Under 15 min
36%
15–30 min
51%
30–45 min
9%
Over 45 min
4%
Housing Stock

Year Built

Before 1940
1%
1940s–1950s
7%
1960s–1970s
13%
1980s–1990s
21%
2000+
58%
About West Des Moines, IA

West Des Moines is a city in Iowa, located in Polk County. The city spans 2 ZIP codes and is home to approximately 69,831 residents. It is a relatively young city, with a median age of 36.47 years.

Economically, West Des Moines is a middle-income community. The median household income of $84,953 is near the national average. Approximately 7.2% of residents live below the poverty line. The unemployment rate is 2.4%, well below the national average.

The real estate market in West Des Moines is a mid-range housing market. Median home values stand at $297,877, which is near the national average. Renters typically pay around $1,180 per month.

The population of West Des Moines is highly educated. 65.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher — significantly above the national average. The community is primarily White (78.27%).

West Des Moines, IA offers residents above-average earning potential within Iowa. Spread across 2 ZIP codes, the city's neighborhoods vary in character, density, and demographics — explore each ZIP code below for a detailed breakdown.

ZIP Codes in West Des Moines
ZIPPopulationMedian IncomeMedian HomeMedian RentUnemp.CollegeOwner Occ.
50265 33,061 $84,588 $267,600 $1,065 2.2% 60.0% 66.0%
50266 36,770 $85,282 $325,100 $1,285 2.6% 69.8% 50.1%