West Des Moines SnackAbility
Overall SnackAbility
Crime in West Des Moines summary. We use data from the FBI to determine the crime rates in West Des Moines. Key points include:
There were 1,378 total crimes in West Des Moines in the last reporting year.
The overall crime rate per 100,000 people in West Des Moines is 1,879.0 / 100k people.
The violent crime rate per 100,000 people in West Des Moines is 165.0 / 100k people.
The property crime rate per 100,000 people in West Des Moines is 1,714.1 / 100k people.
Overall, crime in West Des Moines is -11.33% below the national average.
Total Crimes
Below National Average
Crime In West Des Moines Comparison Table
| Statistic | Count Raw |
West Des Moines / 100k People |
Iowa / 100k People |
National / 100k People |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crimes Per 100K | 1,378 | 1,879.0 | 1,540.0 | 2,119.2 |
| Violent Crime | 121 | 165.0 | 243.3 | 359.0 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 2.1 | 5.0 |
| Robbery | 9 | 12.3 | 18.7 | 61.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 96 | 130.9 | 187.2 | 256.0 |
| Property Crime | 1,257 | 1,714.1 | 1,296.8 | 1,760.0 |
| Burglary | 84 | 114.5 | 199.1 | 229.0 |
| Larceny | 1,079 | 1,471.3 | 962.6 | 1,272.0 |
| Car Theft | 94 | 128.2 | 135.1 | 259.0 |
Source: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (2024)
Cost of living in West Des Moines summary. We use data on the cost of living to determine how expensive it is to live in West Des Moines. Real estate prices drive most of the variance in cost of living around Iowa. Key points include:
The cost of living in West Des Moines is 103 with 100 being average.
The cost of living in West Des Moines is 1.0x higher than the national average.
The median home value in West Des Moines is $320,156.
The median income in West Des Moines is $86,594.
West Des Moines's Overall Cost Of Living
Higher Than The National Average
Cost Of Living In West Des Moines Comparison Table
| Living Expense | West Des Moines | Iowa | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 103 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 95 | 100 |
| Health | 119 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 97 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 96 | 93 | 100 |
| Utilities | 90 | 94 | 100 |
Source: Cost of living index, normalized to US average = 100
West Des Moines, IA Weather
The average high in West Des Moines is 59.9° and the average low is 39.5°.
There are 66.0 days of precipitation each year.
Expect an average of 35.5 inches of precipitation each year with 34.8 inches of snow.
| Stat | West Des Moines |
|---|---|
| Average Annual High | 59.9 |
| Average Annual Low | 39.5 |
| Annual Precipitation Days | 66.0 |
| Average Annual Precipitation | 35.5 |
| Average Annual Snowfall | 34.8 |
Average High
Days of Rain
Source: NOAA climate normals (30-year)
West Des Moines, IA Photos
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Map Of West Des Moines, IA
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West Des Moines Demographics And Statistics
Population over time in West Des Moines
The current population in West Des Moines is 71,083. The population has increased 29.9% from 2010.
| Year | Population | % Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 71,083 | 1.7% |
| 2023 | 69,893 | 1.7% |
| 2022 | 68,744 | 1.6% |
| 2021 | 67,640 | 1.4% |
| 2020 | 66,724 | 1.7% |
| 2019 | 65,606 | 1.9% |
| 2018 | 64,400 | 2.2% |
| 2017 | 62,999 | 2.2% |
| 2016 | 61,624 | 0.6% |
| 2015 | 61,266 | 2.4% |
| 2014 | 59,815 | 2.5% |
| 2013 | 58,344 | 2.3% |
| 2012 | 57,041 | 2.2% |
| 2011 | 55,812 | 2.0% |
| 2010 | 54,731 | - |
Race / Ethnicity in West Des Moines
See the full breakdown
West Des Moines is:
77.4% White with 54,992 White residents.
5.0% African American with 3,581 African American residents.
0.0% American Indian with 10 American Indian residents.
6.3% Asian with 4,504 Asian residents.
0.0% Hawaiian with 0 Hawaiian residents.
0.4% Other with 311 Other residents.
4.3% Two Or More with 3,082 Two Or More residents.
6.5% Hispanic with 4,603 Hispanic residents.
| Race | West Des Moines | IA | USA |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 77.4% | 82.3% | 57.4% |
| African American | 5.0% | 3.8% | 11.9% |
| American Indian | 0.0% | 0.2% | 0.5% |
| Asian | 6.3% | 2.5% | 5.9% |
| Hawaiian | 0.0% | 0.2% | 0.2% |
| Other | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.6% |
| Two Or More | 4.3% | 3.5% | 4.3% |
| Hispanic | 6.5% | 7.3% | 19.3% |
Gender in West Des Moines
See the full breakdown
West Des Moines is 50.8% female with 36,125 female residents.
West Des Moines is 49.2% male with 34,958 male residents.
| Gender | West Des Moines | IA | USA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 50.8% | 49.8% | 50.5% |
| Male | 49.2% | 50.2% | 49.5% |
Highest level of educational attainment in West Des Moines for adults over 25
See the full breakdown
2.0% of adults in West Des Moines completed < 9th grade.
2.0% of adults in West Des Moines completed 9-12th grade.
16.0% of adults in West Des Moines completed high school / ged.
16.0% of adults in West Des Moines completed some college.
9.0% of adults in West Des Moines completed associate's degree.
36.0% of adults in West Des Moines completed bachelor's degree.
13.0% of adults in West Des Moines completed master's degree.
4.0% of adults in West Des Moines completed professional degree.
2.0% of adults in West Des Moines completed doctorate degree.
| Education | West Des Moines | IA | USA |
|---|---|---|---|
| < 9th Grade | 2.0% | 3.0% | 4.0% |
| 9-12th Grade | 2.0% | 4.0% | 6.0% |
| High School / GED | 16.0% | 30.0% | 26.0% |
| Some College | 16.0% | 20.0% | 19.0% |
| Associate's Degree | 9.0% | 12.0% | 9.0% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 36.0% | 21.0% | 22.0% |
| Master's Degree | 13.0% | 7.0% | 10.0% |
| Professional Degree | 4.0% | 2.0% | 2.0% |
| Doctorate Degree | 2.0% | 1.0% | 2.0% |
Household Income For West Des Moines, Iowa
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2.7% of households in West Des Moines earn Less than $10,000.
1.8% of households in West Des Moines earn $10,000 to $14,999.
4.9% of households in West Des Moines earn $15,000 to $24,999.
7.9% of households in West Des Moines earn $25,000 to $34,999.
11.1% of households in West Des Moines earn $35,000 to $49,999.
14.7% of households in West Des Moines earn $50,000 to $74,999.
13.7% of households in West Des Moines earn $75,000 to $99,999.
17.2% of households in West Des Moines earn $100,000 to $149,999.
10.4% of households in West Des Moines earn $150,000 to $199,999.
15.7% of households in West Des Moines earn $200,000 or more.
| Income | West Des Moines | IA | USA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less than $10,000 | 2.7% | 4.0% | 5.0% |
| $10,000 to $14,999 | 1.8% | 3.2% | 3.4% |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 4.9% | 6.7% | 6.3% |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 7.9% | 7.2% | 6.6% |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 11.1% | 11.3% | 10.1% |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 14.7% | 17.5% | 15.5% |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 13.7% | 14.0% | 12.6% |
| $100,000 to $149,999 | 17.2% | 18.7% | 17.5% |
| $150,000 to $199,999 | 10.4% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| $200,000 or more | 15.7% | 8.6% | 13.4% |
Source: U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (2024)
