At a Glance
Median Income
$89,787
$42,963 per capita
Home Value
$539,800
Zillow: $599,579
Median Rent
$1,727/mo
39.5% of income on rent
Violent Crime
263/100K
3,079/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
33.2%
89.1% high school+
Unemployment
4.7%
6.2% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
26.6%
10.3% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
54°F
249 sunny days/yr
How Des Moines Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Des Moines's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Des Moines a Good Place to Live?
B
3.1 / 5.0 — Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Des Moines residents earn a median household income of $89,787 , which is 19% above the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $42,963. The unemployment rate stands at 4.7% (31% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 6.2% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 6,739 business establishments, including 580 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Des Moines is $539,800 , 91% above the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $599,579. Median rent is $1,727/month, with 39.5% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 107.0 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1973.
Safety & Crime
Des Moines reports 263 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 31% below the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 3,079/100K. The murder rate is 3.1/100K.
Education
33.2% of adults in Des Moines hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(1% below the national average).
89.1% have completed high school. Local schools score 6.1/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Des Moines has an average annual temperature of 54°F (12°C).
Winters average 43°F in January while summers reach 67°F in July. The area gets 249 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 39.3 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 28.
Data Overview
People
Population32,545
Median Age37.5 yrs
Density5,077/mi²
Male / Female48% / 52%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans7.2%
Economy
A
Median Income$89,787
Per Capita$42,963
Unemployment4.7%
Poverty6.2%
County GDP$18,349M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,377
Housing
B
Home Value$539,800
Rent$1,727
Ownership60.8%
Zillow$599,579
Housing Units13,011
Rent Burden39.5%
Crime
F
Violent263/100K
Property3,079/100K
Murder3.1/100K
Assault113/100K
Burglary425/100K
Health
Obesity26.6%
Diabetes8.5%
Smoking10.3%
Heart Disease4.6%
Premature Death6,099/100K
Climate
Avg Temp54°F
Sunny Days249/yr
Rain39.3 in/yr
AQI28 (Good)
Elevation190 ft
Education
B+
Bachelor's+33.2%
High School+89.1%
Graduate+10.4%
School Score6.1/10
Community
2024 VoteR 38% / D 59%
Commute31 min
Broadband93.8%
Internet Speed150 Mbps
EV Stations4
Libraries9
Did You Know?
Des Moines was founded in 1959.
The median home in Des Moines was built in 1973.
The nearest airport is Seattle-Tacoma International (4 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.431 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA.
14.3% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 150 Mbps.
There are 580 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 20 fatal vehicle crashes.
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