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Living in
Grimes.
About
Life in Grimes
If you're considering a move here, understand that Grimes is experiencing real growth—the population nearly doubled between 2010 and 2020, so you're looking at a city in transition rather than a sleepy small town. The metro connection to Des Moines (just 19 minutes away on average) makes it attractive for people who want suburban living with access to bigger-city jobs and amenities, and the numbers back it up: median household income sits around $120,037, unemployment is low at 3.7%, and housing is relatively affordable at a median home value of $305,000. That said, this is still very much a car-dependent place—you'll need one to get around, though Heart of Iowa Regional Transit Authority does offer bus service if that's your preference.
Grimes at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
35.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
4.4%
Foreign-Born
10.5%
Broadband Internet
91.3%
of households
Population Growth
+12.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics10.5% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in Grimes: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Grimes, the largest foreign-born group is from India (29.0%), and 3.5% of residents speak Other Asian/Pacific at home.
Under 18
27.5%
of residents
65 and Older
7.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
38.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
26.1%
of households
Married Couples
55.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.67
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 29% above IA average
Rent, home values, and income in Grimes
In Grimes, rent runs 29% above the IA average, and home values are 46% above the IA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
27.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
14.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
91.7
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,377
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
70.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
2009
median year built
Vacant Homes
1.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $349,222 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for IA
Unemployment in Grimes and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Polk County, which includes Grimes, is close to the IA average.
Unemployment rate
Grimes: Polk County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Polk County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Grimes is about 3% of Polk County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Grimes Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area
Commute19.6 min avg
How Grimes residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Grimes, most residents drive alone to work (65%), and 85% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 13 mi
Des Moines International Airport (DSM)
Small hub1.6M passengers boarded in 2025
- 112 mi
Eppley Airfield (OMA)
Medium hub2.6M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 58% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Polk County Sheriff's Office, which covers Grimes, runs 58% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
139.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
791.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Polk County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 16 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
92.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Polk County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Polk County, which includes Grimes, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 16 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $113,200 |
| 2024 | 37 | Thunderstorm Wind | $7.5M |
| 2023 | 10 | Drought | None reported |
| 2022 | 26 | Hail | $75.4M |
| 2021 | 20 | Drought | $30,000 |
| 2020 | 23 | Thunderstorm Wind | $10,000 |
| 2019 | 40 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.3M |
| 2018 | 42 | Hail | $9.2M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Polk County, county-wide
Grimes is about 3% of Polk County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality44 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Polk County, which includes Grimes, is typically good — 224 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
44
Good Days
224
per year
Moderate Days
139
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Polk County, county-wide
Grimes is about 3% of Polk County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate83°F summers, 16°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Grimes has warm summers (avg high 83°F) and very cold winters (avg low 16°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
61°/40°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
83°/64°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
33°/16°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
36.6"
Annual Snowfall
38.0"
Hot Days/Year
18
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
135
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
112
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 30°F | 13°F | 1.01" |
| Feb | 35°F | 17°F | 1.25" |
| Mar | 49°F | 29°F | 2.15" |
| Apr | 62°F | 40°F | 4.00" |
| May | 72°F | 52°F | 4.84" |
| Jun | 81°F | 62°F | 5.35" |
| Jul | 85°F | 66°F | 4.27" |
| Aug | 83°F | 64°F | 3.97" |
| Sep | 76°F | 55°F | 3.40" |
| Oct | 63°F | 43°F | 2.51" |
| Nov | 48°F | 30°F | 1.95" |
| Dec | 35°F | 19°F | 1.46" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Grimes
Uninsured
3.2%
of residents
No hospitals inside Grimes's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Clive Behavioral Health
Psychiatric · 5.4 mi away · Clive
VA Central Iowa Healthcare System
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available · 8.1 mi away · Des Moines
Broadlawns Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.3 mi away · Des Moines
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education16.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Grimes
Grimes's student/teacher ratio is 16.6:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 51.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
51.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Grimes (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,543 students · in-state tuition $52,130 · 78% graduate · median earnings $78,855 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,486 students · in-state tuition $36,136 · 61% graduate · median earnings $58,718 (10 yrs after entry)
Mercy College of Health Sciences
10.7 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 867 students · in-state tuition $18,024 · 67% graduate · median earnings $63,983 (10 yrs after entry)
Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary
9.8 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 405 students · in-state tuition $21,100 · 62% graduate · median earnings $41,000 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreation
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Grimes
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Public Libraries in Grimes
Grimes Public Library
200 N James St, Grimes
Cities Near Grimes
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Grimes?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Grimes FAQ
Is Grimes, Iowa affordable?⌄
Grimes's median rent is $1,251/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $120,037/year. Median home value is $304,700.
Is Grimes, Iowa safe?⌄
Grimes is policed by the Polk County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 140 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 791 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Grimes, Iowa?⌄
Polk County, which includes Grimes, has an unemployment rate of 3.7%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Grimes, Iowa?⌄
The cost of living in Grimes is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,251/month and median household income is $120,037/year. The median home value is $304,700. About 27% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Grimes, Iowa?⌄
The average commute in Grimes is 20 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from