West Des Moines city, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

West Des Moines city is a mid-sized community located in Iowa. The total population is 69,893. It ranks as the 7th most populous out of 1,018 cities and towns in Iowa.

Age Demographics

The median age in West Des Moines city is 36.5 years. This is 5% lower than the state median of 38.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in West Des Moines city is $84,925. This is 16% higher than the state median of $73,147. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 8% higher. The poverty rate stands at 7.3%. This is 34% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.0%. The unemployment rate is 2.5%. This is 31% lower than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $286,300. Housing costs are 46% higher than the state median of $195,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.4x. 57.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 20% lower than the state average of 71.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in West Des Moines city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 78.3% of the population. Asian residents account for 7.2%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (7.2% vs 2.4%).

Education

54.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places West Des Moines city in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 77% higher than the state rate of 30.9%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 96.3%. Notably, 18.9% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for West Des Moines city, Iowa is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Iowa state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,018 Census-designated places in Iowa. For official data, visit data.census.gov.