All Countries
West Des Moines, IA
Full City Profile · Iowa · Polk County County
3.9
/5.0
B+
Good
69,893
Population
1,472/sq mi density
$84,925
Median Income
$55,648 per capita
$286,300
Home Value
$316,621 Zillow
$1,194
Median Rent
25.5% income on rent
51°F
Avg Temperature
275 sunny days/yr
186
Violent Crime/100K
2,505 property/100K
B+
Overall
3.9 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A+
Economy
4.7 / 5.0
$84,925 median income, 1.8% unemployment
A+
Affordability
4.8 / 5.0
$286,300 home value, $1,194/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
186 violent crimes/100K
A+
Education
5.0 / 5.0
54.6% bachelor's degree or higher
Income Overview
Median Household Income
$84,925
13% above
US avg: $75,149
Per Capita Income
$55,648
42% above
US avg: $39,052
Unemployment Rate
1.8%
50% below
US avg: 3.6%
Poverty Rate
5.6%
55% below
US avg: 12.4%
Income Comparison: West Des Moines vs. U.S. Average
Each bar shows West Des Moines’s value as a percentage of the national average (100% line = U.S. avg)
Median Household
US: $75,149
$84,925
113%
Per Capita
US: $39,052
$55,648
142%
IRS Avg AGI
US: $72,000
$93,610
130%
Avg Weekly Wage
US: $1,432
$1,395
97%
Thin line = U.S. average (100%)
Employment & Commute
Avg Weekly Wage
$1,395
3% below US avg ($1,432)
Mean Commute Time
18 min
36% below US avg (28 min)
Work From Home
17.3%
14% above US avg (15.2%)
Drive Alone
71.9%
2% below US avg (73.2%)
Public Transit
0.3%
94% below US avg (5.0%)
County GDP
$63,823M
County-level GDP (BEA 2024)
How Residents Get to Work
Drive Alone
71.9%
Public Transit
0.3%
Work From Home
17.3%
Other
10.5%
Average commute time
18 minutes
US avg: 28 min
Business Landscape
Total Establishments
20,581
Restaurants
1,227
Healthcare
1,513
Retail
1,606
Manufacturing
341
Tax & Financial
IRS Avg Adjusted Gross Income
$93,610
30% above US avg ($72,000)
Avg Property Tax
$6,943
98% above US avg ($3,500)
Cost of Living Index
87.8
Below national average (100 = US avg)
Complete Economy Data
Income & Wages
| Median Household Income | $84,925 |
| Per Capita Income | $55,648 |
| IRS Avg Adjusted Gross Income | $93,610 |
| Avg Weekly Wage | $1,395 |
| County GDP | $63,823M |
Hardship Indicators
| Unemployment Rate | 1.8% |
| Poverty Rate | 5.6% |
| Gini Coefficient | 0.433 |
| Cost of Living Index | 87.8 |
Commute
| Mean Commute | 18 minutes |
| Drive Alone | 71.9% |
| Public Transit | 0.3% |
| Work From Home | 17.3% |
Businesses
| Total Establishments | 20,581 |
| Restaurants | 1,227 |
| Healthcare | 1,513 |
| Retail | 1,606 |
| Manufacturing | 341 |
Tax
| IRS Avg AGI | $93,610 |
| Avg Property Tax | $6,943 |