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Living in
West Des Moines.
About
Life in West Des Moines
West Des Moines offers a stable, prosperous suburban lifestyle with legitimate job opportunities — major employers like Wells Fargo, ADP, and Microsoft have significant operations here, plus Microsoft's data center supporting AI training work. The median household income of about $87,000 and low unemployment around 3.0% reflect a solidly middle-to-upper-class community, though housing costs have climbed with a median home value near $309,000 and rent around $1,237 monthly. Schools are well-regarded through the West Des Moines Community School District, and the population is growing at a steady 6.5% clip, suggesting confidence in the area's future.
West Des Moines at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
8.4%
Foreign-Born
10.9%
Broadband Internet
93.4%
of households
Population Growth
+8.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics10.9% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in West Des Moines: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In West Des Moines, the largest foreign-born group is from India (18.4%), and 4.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.0%
of residents
65 and Older
15.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
25.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
36.0%
of households
Married Couples
39.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.19
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 27% above IA average
Rent, home values, and income in West Des Moines
In West Des Moines, rent runs 27% above the IA average, and home values are 49% above the IA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
41.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
16.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
91.7
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,711
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
57.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1994
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $320,565 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.5 pts below IA average
Unemployment in West Des Moines and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in West Des Moines is 0.5 percentage points lower than the IA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What West Des Moines 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
Commute18.3 min avg
How West Des Moines residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In West Des Moines, most residents drive alone to work (71%), and 88% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 6 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 55% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in West Des Moines runs 55% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
146.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,528.7
per 100,000 residents
About average (1,552 national, 2025)
West Des Moines Police Department
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 West Des Moines, 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
Air Quality44 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Polk County, which includes West Des Moines, 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
Climate84°F summers, 17°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
West Des Moines has warm summers (avg high 84°F) and very cold winters (avg low 17°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
61°/41°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
84°/64°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
63°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
34°/17°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
37.3"
Annual Snowfall
36.5"
Hot Days/Year
22
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
128
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
113
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°F | 14°F | 1.08" |
| Feb | 36°F | 18°F | 1.34" |
| Mar | 49°F | 30°F | 2.17" |
| Apr | 62°F | 41°F | 4.02" |
| May | 72°F | 52°F | 5.24" |
| Jun | 82°F | 62°F | 5.26" |
| Jul | 86°F | 66°F | 3.82" |
| Aug | 84°F | 64°F | 4.17" |
| Sep | 77°F | 55°F | 3.18" |
| Oct | 63°F | 43°F | 2.78" |
| Nov | 48°F | 30°F | 1.91" |
| Dec | 36°F | 20°F | 1.58" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in West Des Moines
Uninsured
4.8%
of residents
No hospitals inside West Des Moines's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Clive Behavioral Health
Psychiatric · 3.6 mi away · Clive
VA Central Iowa Healthcare System
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available · 8.1 mi away · Des Moines
Unitypoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist Medi
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.1 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.
Education15.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in West Des Moines
West Des Moines's student/teacher ratio is 15.3:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 54.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
14
within city limits
Private Schools
6
within city limits
College Degree Rate
54.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near West Des Moines (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
8.5 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 867 students · in-state tuition $18,024 · 67% graduate · median earnings $63,983 (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 West Des Moines
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Public Libraries in West Des Moines
West Des Moines Public Library
4000 George M. Mills Civic Parkway, West Des Moines
Cities Near West Des Moines
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to West Des Moines?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
West Des Moines FAQ
Is West Des Moines, Iowa affordable?⌄
West Des Moines's median rent is $1,237/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $86,594/year. Median home value is $309,000.
Is West Des Moines, Iowa safe?⌄
West Des Moines's violent crime rate was 147 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 1529 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in West Des Moines, Iowa?⌄
West Des Moines has an unemployment rate of 3.0%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in West Des Moines, Iowa?⌄
The cost of living in West Des Moines is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,237/month and median household income is $86,594/year. The median home value is $309,000. About 42% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in West Des Moines, Iowa?⌄
The average commute in West Des Moines is 18 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