Des Moines, IA
Demographics And Statistics

We take you around Des Moines to find out what it's like to call it home.

Living in Des Moines, Iowa

Life in Des Moines research summary. HomeSnacks has been using Saturday Night Science to research the quality of life in Des Moines over the past nine years using Census, FBI, Zillow, and other primary data sources. Here's a snapshot of Des Moines based on the most recently available data.

212,421 Population
$208,165 Median home value
$65,932 Median income
90 Cost of living -10% vs US
$1,090 Median rent
5.6% Unemployment
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Des Moines SnackAbility

5
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs 6/10
Housing 7/10
Affordability 8/10
Diversity 9/10
Safety 3/10
Amenities 9/10
Education 7/10
Commute 9/10

Crime in Des Moines summary. We use data from the FBI to determine the crime rates in Des Moines. Key points include:

  • There were 8,013 total crimes in Des Moines in the last reporting year.

  • The overall crime rate per 100,000 people in Des Moines is 3,829.5 / 100k people.

  • The violent crime rate per 100,000 people in Des Moines is 703.0 / 100k people.

  • The property crime rate per 100,000 people in Des Moines is 3,126.5 / 100k people.

  • Overall, crime in Des Moines is 80.70% above the national average.

8,013
Total Crimes
80.70%
Above National Average
Des Moines
US

Crime In Des Moines Comparison Table

Statistic Count
Raw
Des Moines
/ 100k People
Iowa
/ 100k People
National
/ 100k People
Total Crimes Per 100K 8,013 3,829.5 1,540.0 2,119.2
Violent Crime 1,471 703.0 243.3 359.0
Murder 9 4.3 2.1 5.0
Robbery 157 75.0 18.7 61.0
Aggravated Assault 1,198 572.5 187.2 256.0
Property Crime 6,542 3,126.5 1,296.8 1,760.0
Burglary 968 462.6 199.1 229.0
Larceny 4,482 2,142.0 962.6 1,272.0
Car Theft 1,092 521.9 135.1 259.0
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Source: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (2024)

Cost of living in Des Moines summary. We use data on the cost of living to determine how expensive it is to live in Des Moines. Real estate prices drive most of the variance in cost of living around Iowa. Key points include:

  • The cost of living in Des Moines is 90 with 100 being average.

  • The cost of living in Des Moines is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • The median home value in Des Moines is $208,165.

  • The median income in Des Moines is $65,932.

90
Des Moines's Overall Cost Of Living
0.9x
Lower Than The National Average
Des Moines
US

Cost Of Living In Des Moines Comparison Table

Living Expense Des Moines Iowa National Average
Overall 90 90 100
Services 95 99 100
Groceries 93 95 100
Health 82 75 100
Housing 97 97 100
Transportation 90 93 100
Utilities 99 94 100
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Source: Cost of living index, normalized to US average = 100

Des Moines, IA Weather

  • The average high in Des Moines is 59.9° and the average low is 39.8°.

  • There are 65.5 days of precipitation each year.

  • Expect an average of 35.5 inches of precipitation each year with 33.7 inches of snow.

StatDes Moines
Average Annual High59.9
Average Annual Low39.8
Annual Precipitation Days65.5
Average Annual Precipitation35.5
Average Annual Snowfall33.7
59.9°
Average High
65.5
Days of Rain

Source: NOAA climate normals (30-year)

Des Moines, IA Photos

North America Laea Relief Location Map
Source: Wikipedia User Uwe Dedering | CC BY-SA 3.0
Birds Run Site Des Moines
Source: Wikipedia User Bill Whittaker (talk) | CC BY-SA 3.0
Fema   Photograph By Andrea Booher Taken On  In Iowa
Source: Public Domain
Capitol Building Des Moines Iowa
Source: Public Domain

2 Reviews & Comments About Des Moines

Kourtlyn's Random Videos · None
rating starrating starrating starrating star

First of all I'm from Des Moines Iowa and this is telling lies the reason some of this places have some low income taxes is cause some of the places are so they are not even consider towns and no you should not be worried about being robbed at off all the years I have been living in Iowa never had anything dangerous or harmed and when he said you can tell the difference between people from council bluffs and other places in was a lie cause a lot have guns pit bills and not very many walk with 40s and this is a bunch of lies there is nothing wrong with the schools funding and when he said that one place in Iowa had way more tacos than any other place is a lie cause there is a lot of taco place I'm all parts of Iowa

supreme miguell · None
rating starrating star

I live in Iowa and a couple months ago my cousin got robbed at gun point, two times at family dollar, but other than that it's Pretty chill...i guess

Rankings & Articles For Des Moines

Locations Around Des Moines

Map Of Des Moines, IA

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Des Moines Demographics And Statistics

Population over time in Des Moines

The current population in Des Moines is 212,421. The population has increased 5.1% from 2010.

Year Population % Change
2024 212,421 -0.0%
2023 212,464 -0.3%
2022 213,164 -0.2%
2021 213,545 -0.9%
2020 215,408 -0.1%
2019 215,636 -0.1%
2018 215,932 0.5%
2017 214,778 0.9%
2016 212,859 2.3%
2015 208,020 0.6%
2014 206,702 0.6%
2013 205,415 0.5%
2012 204,362 0.5%
2011 203,386 0.6%
2010 202,095 -

Race / Ethnicity in Des Moines

White 61.0% (129,545)
African American 11.1% (23,574)
American Indian 0.1% (195)
Asian 6.6% (13,931)
Hawaiian 0.1% (215)
Other 0.4% (833)
Two Or More 4.5% (9,555)
Hispanic 16.3% (34,573)
See the full breakdown

Des Moines is:

  • 61.0% White with 129,545 White residents.

  • 11.1% African American with 23,574 African American residents.

  • 0.1% American Indian with 195 American Indian residents.

  • 6.6% Asian with 13,931 Asian residents.

  • 0.1% Hawaiian with 215 Hawaiian residents.

  • 0.4% Other with 833 Other residents.

  • 4.5% Two Or More with 9,555 Two Or More residents.

  • 16.3% Hispanic with 34,573 Hispanic residents.

Race Des Moines IA USA
White 61.0% 82.3% 57.4%
African American 11.1% 3.8% 11.9%
American Indian 0.1% 0.2% 0.5%
Asian 6.6% 2.5% 5.9%
Hawaiian 0.1% 0.2% 0.2%
Other 0.4% 0.3% 0.6%
Two Or More 4.5% 3.5% 4.3%
Hispanic 16.3% 7.3% 19.3%

Gender in Des Moines

Female 50.0% (106,186)
Male 50.0% (106,234)
See the full breakdown
  • Des Moines is 50.0% female with 106,186 female residents.

  • Des Moines is 50.0% male with 106,234 male residents.

Gender Des Moines IA USA
Female 50.0% 49.8% 50.5%
Male 50.0% 50.2% 49.5%

Highest level of educational attainment in Des Moines for adults over 25

< 9th Grade 7.0% (14,869)
9-12th Grade 6.0% (12,745)
High School / GED 28.0% (59,477)
Some College 19.0% (40,359)
Associate's Degree 10.0% (21,242)
Bachelor's Degree 20.0% (42,484)
Master's Degree 7.0% (14,869)
Professional Degree 2.0% (4,248)
Doctorate Degree 1.0% (2,124)
See the full breakdown
  • 7.0% of adults in Des Moines completed < 9th grade.

  • 6.0% of adults in Des Moines completed 9-12th grade.

  • 28.0% of adults in Des Moines completed high school / ged.

  • 19.0% of adults in Des Moines completed some college.

  • 10.0% of adults in Des Moines completed associate's degree.

  • 20.0% of adults in Des Moines completed bachelor's degree.

  • 7.0% of adults in Des Moines completed master's degree.

  • 2.0% of adults in Des Moines completed professional degree.

  • 1.0% of adults in Des Moines completed doctorate degree.

Education Des Moines IA USA
< 9th Grade 7.0% 3.0% 4.0%
9-12th Grade 6.0% 4.0% 6.0%
High School / GED 28.0% 30.0% 26.0%
Some College 19.0% 20.0% 19.0%
Associate's Degree 10.0% 12.0% 9.0%
Bachelor's Degree 20.0% 21.0% 22.0%
Master's Degree 7.0% 7.0% 10.0%
Professional Degree 2.0% 2.0% 2.0%
Doctorate Degree 1.0% 1.0% 2.0%

Household Income For Des Moines, Iowa

Less than $10,000 4.4% (932,855)
$10,000 to $14,999 4.0% (850,579)
$15,000 to $24,999 7.3% (1,544,387)
$25,000 to $34,999 6.8% (1,448,909)
$35,000 to $49,999 14.4% (3,052,940)
$50,000 to $74,999 19.6% (4,161,900)
$75,000 to $99,999 15.0% (3,178,594)
$100,000 to $149,999 15.8% (3,363,656)
$150,000 to $199,999 6.3% (1,346,122)
$200,000 or more 6.4% (1,362,153)
See the full breakdown
  • 4.4% of households in Des Moines earn Less than $10,000.

  • 4.0% of households in Des Moines earn $10,000 to $14,999.

  • 7.3% of households in Des Moines earn $15,000 to $24,999.

  • 6.8% of households in Des Moines earn $25,000 to $34,999.

  • 14.4% of households in Des Moines earn $35,000 to $49,999.

  • 19.6% of households in Des Moines earn $50,000 to $74,999.

  • 15.0% of households in Des Moines earn $75,000 to $99,999.

  • 15.8% of households in Des Moines earn $100,000 to $149,999.

  • 6.3% of households in Des Moines earn $150,000 to $199,999.

  • 6.4% of households in Des Moines earn $200,000 or more.

Income Des Moines IA USA
Less than $10,000 4.4% 4.0% 5.0%
$10,000 to $14,999 4.0% 3.2% 3.4%
$15,000 to $24,999 7.3% 6.7% 6.3%
$25,000 to $34,999 6.8% 7.2% 6.6%
$35,000 to $49,999 14.4% 11.3% 10.1%
$50,000 to $74,999 19.6% 17.5% 15.5%
$75,000 to $99,999 15.0% 14.0% 12.6%
$100,000 to $149,999 15.8% 18.7% 17.5%
$150,000 to $199,999 6.3% 8.8% 9.6%
$200,000 or more 6.4% 8.6% 13.4%

Source: U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (2024)