Census place 1921000

Des Moines

A Census profile of the people, homes, and daily patterns that shape this place.

Official Census name: Des Moines city

Relocation snapshot

What stands out in Des Moines.

According to the 2025 estimate, Des Moines has a population of 212,086 and 2,406 residents per square mile. Of the six relocation measures evaluated, the three largest relative differences from the median among 41 covered Iowa places are: population density is 2,406/sq mi, above the comparison median of 1,552/sq mi; median gross rent is $1,090, above the comparison median of $978; and median home value is $194,700, below the comparison median of $219,200. These unweighted medians compare covered Census places and are not statewide estimates.

population density
2,406/sq mi
Above the comparison median of 1,552/sq mi
median gross rent
$1,090
Above the comparison median of $978
median home value
$194,700
Below the comparison median of $219,200

National context

Follow the metrics.

Compare Des Moines's values with other covered Census places. Rankings are descriptive, not recommendations.

At a glance

A city in numbers.

Population
212,086
2025 estimate
Annual change
-0.1%
Population estimate
Density
2,406/sq mi
88.2 sq mi land area
Median age
34.6 years
ACS 5-year estimate

Living here

The everyday equation.

Households, homes, education, and the time it takes to get around.

Median household income
$65,932
Median home value
$194,700
Median gross rent
$1,090
Bachelor’s degree or higher
29.7%
Typical commute
19.5 min
Drive-alone commute
70.9%
Public transit commute
0.8%
Walked to work
2.4%

Housing

Who rents, and what it takes.

Renter share and rent burden help describe the housing choices visible in this place.

Renter-occupied homes
39.5%
Renters paying 30%+ of income
48.8%

Work

How the workday lands.

Employment status and working-from-home share add context to income and commuting patterns.

Employed residents 16+
67.1%
Unemployed residents 16+
4%
Working from home
13.1%

Community

The everyday infrastructure.

Access, mobility, housing growth, and household composition add another layer to a place's day-to-day picture.

Households with broadband
89.8%
Homes built 2020+
0.9%
Households without a vehicle
9%
Households with children
29.2%
Residents with a disability
14.3%
Residents without insurance
7.2%

Environmental context

A record of declared events.

FEMA declarations for Polk County provide historical context, not a forecast or a property-level risk assessment.

Environmental declarations since 2000
10
Severe Storm declarations
7
Flood declarations
1
Hurricane declarations
1

Climate normals

The long view of weather.

Thirty-year averages, not a forecast. Temperature and precipitation describe the typical conditions recorded from 1991 through 2020.

Representative station: DES MOINES INTL AP (4 mi from place center)
Average high
60.5°F
Average low
41.3°F
Annual rainfall
36.5"
Annual snowfall
36.5"

Month by month

A year in Des Moines.

Typical high and low °F
0°F20°F40°F60°F80°F100°F
JFMAMJJASOND
Typical precipitation inches

Data vintage

Population is from the 2025 Population Estimates Program. Household, housing, education, and commute data are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-year release. Disaster declarations are from FEMA's OpenFEMA dataset and are refreshed with this edition.

Similar places

More places to consider.

Selected by the closest mix of population, density, median home value, and average annual high.

Fort Wayne, IN

Population, housing, work, and travel data for this Census place.

Population
275,203
Median home
$188,900

Sioux Falls, SD

Population, housing, work, and travel data for this Census place.

Population
213,748
Median home
$292,400

Joliet, IL

Population, housing, work, and travel data for this Census place.

Population
152,241
Median home
$265,800

Keep exploring

Compare Des Moines with Fort Wayne