What it's like to live in West Des Moines
West Des Moines is a smaller city in Iowa with rent below the national average, unemployment below the national average, crime rates well below the national average, and commutes that run shorter than most cities. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. West Des Moines deals with air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, cold, harsh winters, snowy winters, and fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Low unemployment
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Growing population
The not so good
- Air quality concerns
- Cold, harsh winters
- Snowy winters — 37" per year
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How West Des Moines compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to West Des Moines
Based on West Des Moines's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,474
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $49,480 a year
- 42% of West Des Moines renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$61,800
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $30,900
- Homes cost 3.6× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 12% below US
$1,237/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,237 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $309,000. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $309,000 · 42% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 30% below US
3.0% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.0%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 55% below US
147 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1529/100k · West Des Moines Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 30% below US
18 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 18.3 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 19% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 84°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 17°F.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 52% above US
55% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
14 public schools inside the boundary
There are 14 public schools inside the boundary and 6 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15:1, close to the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Bottom line
West Des Moines's strongest points are rent below the national average and unemployment below the national average; the main tradeoffs are air quality that falls short of national benchmarks and cold, harsh winters. A year of median rent ($1,237/mo) equals 17% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget, job seekers, and anyone prioritizing low crime. It may be a harder fit for anyone who dislikes long, cold winters.
Other places near West Des Moines
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Compare with West Des Moines →Moving to Urbandale →
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Compare with West Des Moines →Moving to Waukee →
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