At a Glance
Median Income
$133,750
$47,063 per capita
Home Value
$250,300
Zillow: $402,427
Median Rent
$947/mo
26.3% of income on rent
Violent Crime
78/100K
819/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
42.4%
98.7% high school+
Unemployment
1.0%
1.8% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
31.4%
10.0% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
51°F
275 sunny days/yr
How Van Meter Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Van Meter's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Van Meter a Good Place to Live?
B+
3.8 / 5.0 — Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Van Meter residents earn a median household income of $133,750 , which is 78% above the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $47,063. The unemployment rate stands at 1.0% (72% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 1.8% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 20,581 business establishments, including 1,227 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Van Meter is $250,300 , 11% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $402,427. Median rent is $947/month, with 26.3% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 87.8 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1979.
Safety & Crime
Van Meter reports 78 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 79% below the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 819/100K.
Education
42.4% of adults in Van Meter hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(26% above the national average).
98.7% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.7/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Van Meter has an average annual temperature of 51°F (11°C).
Winters average 22°F in January while summers reach 76°F in July. The area gets 275 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 36.6 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 43.
Data Overview
People
Population1,469
Median Age35.8 yrs
Density335/mi²
Male / Female46% / 55%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans5.8%
Economy
A+
Median Income$133,750
Per Capita$47,063
Unemployment1.0%
Poverty1.8%
County GDP$63,823M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,395
Housing
A+
Home Value$250,300
Rent$947
Ownership92.0%
Zillow$402,427
Housing Units477
Rent Burden26.3%
Crime
F
Violent78/100K
Property819/100K
Health
Obesity31.4%
Diabetes7.5%
Smoking10.0%
Heart Disease4.1%
Premature Death7,653/100K
Climate
Avg Temp51°F
Sunny Days275/yr
Rain36.6 in/yr
AQI43 (Good)
Elevation971 ft
Education
A
Bachelor's+42.4%
High School+98.7%
Graduate+10.1%
School Score5.7/10
Community
2024 VoteR 44% / D 55%
Commute21 min
Broadband94.6%
Internet Speed130 Mbps
EV Stations12
Libraries19
Did You Know?
The median home in Van Meter was built in 1979.
17.0% work from home.
The nearest airport is Des Moines International (13 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.433 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA.
6.0% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 130 Mbps.
There are 1,227 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 33 fatal vehicle crashes.
91 declared natural disasters on record.