Des Moines, IA
Demographics And Statistics

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2023-11-16

Living In Des Moines, Iowa Summary

Life in Des Moines research summary. HomeSnacks has been researching the quality of life in Des Moines over the past eight years using Census data, FBI crime data, cost of living data, and other primary sources. Based on the most recently available data, we found the following about life in Des Moines:

  • The population in Des Moines is 213,545.

  • The median home value in Des Moines is $149,700.

  • The median income in Des Moines is $58,444.

  • The cost of living in Des Moines is 88 which is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • The median rent in Des Moines is $916.

  • The unemployment rate in Des Moines is 5.8%.

  • The poverty rate in Des Moines is 15.3%.

Search Homes For Sale In Des Moines, IA

Des Moines SnackAbility

5
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
6/10
Housing
7
Affordability
8
Diversity
9
Safety
3
Amenities
9
Education
7
Commute
9
Search Homes For Sale In Des Moines, IA

Des Moines, IA Crime Report

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

  • There were 8,102 total crimes in Des Moines in the last reporting year.

  • The overall crime rate per 100,000 people in Des Moines is 3,802.7 / 100k people.

  • The violent crime rate per 100,000 people in Des Moines is 628.9 / 100k people.

  • The property crime rate per 100,000 people in Des Moines is 3,173.8 / 100k people.

  • Overall, crime in Des Moines is 63.61% above the national average.

8,102
Total Crimes
63.61%
Above National Average

Crime In Des Moines Comparison Table

Statistic Count
Raw
Des Moines
/ 100k People
Iowa
/ 100k People
National
/ 100k People
Total Crimes Per 100K 8,102 3,802.7 2,001.7 2,324.2
Violent Crime 1,340 628.9 303.5 369.8
Murder 2 0.9 3.5 6.3
Robbery 165 77.4 29.8 66.1
Aggravated Assault 1,064 499.4 229.4 268.2
Property Crime 6,762 3,173.8 1,698.2 1,954.4
Burglary 738 346.4 371.1 269.8
Larceny 4,580 2,149.6 1,130.1 1,401.9
Car Theft 1,444 677.7 197.1 282.7

Des Moines, IA Cost Of Living

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 88 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 $149,700.

  • The median income in Des Moines is $58,444.

88
Des Moines's Overall Cost Of Living
0.9x
Lower Than The National Average

Cost Of Living In Des Moines Comparison Table

Living Expense Des Moines Iowa National Average
Overall 88 89 100
Services 95 95 100
Groceries 93 98 100
Health 91 99 100
Housing 71 73 100
Transportation 98 98 100
Utilities 90 94 100

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

Overall User Rating
3.0
/5
Search Homes For Sale In Des Moines, IA

Kourtlyn's Random Videos -

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 -

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

Review Where You Live

Des Moines Articles

Rankings for Des Moines in Iowa

Locations Around Des Moines

Map Of Des Moines, IA

Best Places Around Des Moines

1

Urbandale, IA
Population 45,037

2

Ankeny, IA
Population 66,346

3

Clive, IA
Population 18,323

4

West Des Moines, IA
Population 67,640

5

Johnston, IA
Population 23,418

6

Norwalk, IA
Population 12,592

7

Altoona, IA
Population 19,345

8

Waukee, IA
Population 23,441

9

Grimes, IA
Population 14,842

10

Pleasant Hill, IA
Population 10,203

Des Moines Demographics And Statistics

Population over time in Des Moines

The current population in Des Moines is 213,545. The population has increased 5.7% from 2010.

Year Population % Change
2021 213,545 -1.1%
2020 215,932 0.5%
2019 214,778 0.9%
2018 212,859 2.3%
2017 208,020 0.6%
2016 206,702 0.6%
2015 205,415 0.5%
2014 204,362 0.5%
2013 203,386 0.6%
2012 202,095 -

Race / Ethnicity in Des Moines

White
63.5% (135,520)
African American
10.9% (23,252)
American Indian
0.2% (382)
Asian
7.1% (15,142)
Hawaiian
0.0% (57)
Other
0.2% (349)
Two Or More
3.6% (7,743)
Hispanic
14.6% (31,100)

Des Moines is:

  • 63.5% White with 135,520 White residents.

  • 10.9% African American with 23,252 African American residents.

  • 0.2% American Indian with 382 American Indian residents.

  • 7.1% Asian with 15,142 Asian residents.

  • 0.0% Hawaiian with 57 Hawaiian residents.

  • 0.2% Other with 349 Other residents.

  • 3.6% Two Or More with 7,743 Two Or More residents.

  • 14.6% Hispanic with 31,100 Hispanic residents.

Race Des Moines IA USA
White 63.5% 84.4% 59.4%
African American 10.9% 3.7% 12.2%
American Indian 0.2% 0.2% 0.6%
Asian 7.1% 2.5% 5.6%
Hawaiian 0.0% 0.1% 0.2%
Other 0.2% 0.2% 0.4%
Two Or More 3.6% 2.6% 3.2%
Hispanic 14.6% 6.4% 18.4%

Gender in Des Moines

Female
50.9% (108,737)
Male
49.1% (104,807)
  • Des Moines is 50.9% female with 108,737 female residents.

  • Des Moines is 49.1% male with 104,807 male residents.

Gender Des Moines IA USA
Female 50.9% 50.0% 50.5%
Male 49.1% 50.0% 49.5%

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

< 9th Grade
7.0% (14,948)
9-12th Grade
6.0% (12,812)
High School / GED
30.0% (64,063)
Some College
20.0% (42,709)
Associate's Degree
9.0% (19,219)
Bachelor's Degree
19.0% (40,573)
Master's Degree
6.0% (12,812)
Professional Degree
2.0% (4,270)
Doctorate Degree
1.0% (2,135)
  • 7.0% of adults in Des Moines completed < 9th grade.

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

  • 30.0% of adults in Des Moines completed high school / ged.

  • 20.0% of adults in Des Moines completed some college.

  • 9.0% of adults in Des Moines completed associate's degree.

  • 19.0% of adults in Des Moines completed bachelor's degree.

  • 6.0% 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% 2.0% 5.0%
9-12th Grade 6.0% 4.0% 6.0%
High School / GED 30.0% 31.0% 26.0%
Some College 20.0% 21.0% 20.0%
Associate's Degree 9.0% 12.0% 9.0%
Bachelor's Degree 19.0% 20.0% 21.0%
Master's Degree 6.0% 7.0% 9.0%
Professional Degree 2.0% 2.0% 2.0%
Doctorate Degree 1.0% 1.0% 2.0%

Household Income For Des Moines, Iowa

  • 5.3% of households in Des Moines earn Less than $10,000.

  • 4.7% of households in Des Moines earn $10,000 to $14,999.

  • 8.9% of households in Des Moines earn $15,000 to $24,999.

  • 9.4% of households in Des Moines earn $25,000 to $34,999.

  • 14.7% of households in Des Moines earn $35,000 to $49,999.

  • 20.2% of households in Des Moines earn $50,000 to $74,999.

  • 14.3% of households in Des Moines earn $75,000 to $99,999.

  • 13.6% of households in Des Moines earn $100,000 to $149,999.

  • 4.9% of households in Des Moines earn $150,000 to $199,999.

  • 4.0% of households in Des Moines earn $200,000 or more.

Less than $10,000
5.3% (1,133,365)
$10,000 to $14,999
4.7% (1,005,472)
$15,000 to $24,999
8.9% (1,898,515)
$25,000 to $34,999
9.4% (2,013,644)
$35,000 to $49,999
14.7% (3,140,873)
$50,000 to $74,999
20.2% (4,304,677)
$75,000 to $99,999
14.3% (3,055,692)
$100,000 to $149,999
13.6% (2,906,688)
$150,000 to $199,999
4.9% (1,039,102)
$200,000 or more
4.0% (856,467)
Income Des Moines IA USA
Less than $10,000 5.3% 4.7% 5.5%
$10,000 to $14,999 4.7% 3.8% 3.9%
$15,000 to $24,999 8.9% 8.2% 7.8%
$25,000 to $34,999 9.4% 8.6% 8.2%
$35,000 to $49,999 14.7% 12.6% 11.4%
$50,000 to $74,999 20.2% 18.8% 16.8%
$75,000 to $99,999 14.3% 14.2% 12.8%
$100,000 to $149,999 13.6% 17.0% 16.3%
$150,000 to $199,999 4.9% 6.4% 7.8%
$200,000 or more 4.0% 5.8% 9.5%

Articles About Iowa

Enjoy The Snack?