West Des Moines, IA
Demographics And Statistics

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-25

Living In West Des Moines, Iowa Summary

Life in West Des Moines research summary. HomeSnacks has been using Saturday Night Science to research the quality of life in West Des Moines over the past nine years using Census, FBI, Zillow, and other primary data sources. Based on the most recently available data, we found the following about life in West Des Moines:

  • The population in West Des Moines is 69,893.

  • The median home value in West Des Moines is $322,301.

  • The median income in West Des Moines is $84,925.

  • The cost of living in West Des Moines is 102 which is 1.0x higher than the national average.

  • The median rent in West Des Moines is $1,194.

  • The unemployment rate in West Des Moines is 2.5%.

  • The poverty rate in West Des Moines is 7.3%.

  • The average high in West Des Moines is 59.9° and the average low is 39.5°.

West Des Moines SnackAbility

9
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
8.5/10
Housing
8
Affordability
8
Diversity
8
Safety
8
Amenities
8.5
Education
9.5
Commute
9

West Des Moines, IA Crime Report

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.

1,378
Total Crimes
-11.33%
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

West Des Moines, IA Cost Of Living

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 102 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 $322,301.

  • The median income in West Des Moines is $84,925.

102
West Des Moines's Overall Cost Of Living
1.0x
Higher Than The National Average

Cost Of Living In West Des Moines Comparison Table

Living Expense West Des Moines Iowa National Average
Overall 102 90 100
Services 94 96 100
Groceries 99 97 100
Health 96 99 100
Housing 121 75 100
Transportation 92 99 100
Utilities 85 94 100

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.

StatWest Des Moines
Average Annual High59.9
Average Annual Low39.5
Annual Precipitation Days66.0
Average Annual Precipitation35.5
Average Annual Snowfall34.8
59.9°
Average High
66.0
Days of Rain

West Des Moines, IA Photos

Historicvalleyjunction
Source: Wikipedia User Iowahwyman | CC BY-SA 3.0

Rankings for West Des Moines in Iowa

Locations Around West Des Moines

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 69,893. The population has increased 27.7% from 2010.

Year Population % Change
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

White
78.3% (54,694)
African American
3.6% (2,484)
American Indian
0.0% (10)
Asian
7.2% (5,065)
Hawaiian
0.0% (0)
Other
0.4% (314)
Two Or More
4.4% (3,076)
Hispanic
6.1% (4,250)

West Des Moines is:

  • 78.3% White with 54,694 White residents.

  • 3.6% African American with 2,484 African American residents.

  • 0.0% American Indian with 10 American Indian residents.

  • 7.2% Asian with 5,065 Asian residents.

  • 0.0% Hawaiian with 0 Hawaiian residents.

  • 0.4% Other with 314 Other residents.

  • 4.4% Two Or More with 3,076 Two Or More residents.

  • 6.1% Hispanic with 4,250 Hispanic residents.

Race West Des Moines IA USA
White 78.3% 83.1% 58.2%
African American 3.6% 3.8% 12.0%
American Indian 0.0% 0.2% 0.5%
Asian 7.2% 2.4% 5.7%
Hawaiian 0.0% 0.1% 0.2%
Other 0.4% 0.2% 0.5%
Two Or More 4.4% 3.2% 3.9%
Hispanic 6.1% 7.0% 19.0%

Gender in West Des Moines

Female
49.9% (34,909)
Male
50.1% (34,984)
  • West Des Moines is 49.9% female with 34,909 female residents.

  • West Des Moines is 50.1% male with 34,984 male residents.

Gender West Des Moines IA USA
Female 49.9% 49.9% 50.5%
Male 50.1% 50.1% 49.5%

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

  • 1.0% 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.

  • 10.0% 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.

< 9th Grade
1.0% (698)
9-12th Grade
2.0% (1,397)
High School / GED
16.0% (11,182)
Some College
16.0% (11,182)
Associate's Degree
10.0% (6,989)
Bachelor's Degree
36.0% (25,161)
Master's Degree
13.0% (9,086)
Professional Degree
4.0% (2,795)
Doctorate Degree
2.0% (1,397)
Education West Des Moines IA USA
< 9th Grade 1.0% 3.0% 5.0%
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 10.0% 12.0% 9.0%
Bachelor's Degree 36.0% 21.0% 21.0%
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

  • 2.6% of households in West Des Moines earn Less than $10,000.

  • 2.1% 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.

  • 7.6% of households in West Des Moines earn $25,000 to $34,999.

  • 10.4% of households in West Des Moines earn $35,000 to $49,999.

  • 16.2% of households in West Des Moines earn $50,000 to $74,999.

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

  • 17.0% of households in West Des Moines earn $100,000 to $149,999.

  • 10.3% of households in West Des Moines earn $150,000 to $199,999.

  • 14.7% of households in West Des Moines earn $200,000 or more.

Less than $10,000
2.6% (184,038)
$10,000 to $14,999
2.1% (145,605)
$15,000 to $24,999
4.9% (339,088)
$25,000 to $34,999
7.6% (527,738)
$35,000 to $49,999
10.4% (726,491)
$50,000 to $74,999
16.2% (1,129,268)
$75,000 to $99,999
14.3% (996,400)
$100,000 to $149,999
17.0% (1,189,663)
$150,000 to $199,999
10.3% (722,099)
$200,000 or more
14.7% (1,028,904)
Income West Des Moines IA USA
Less than $10,000 2.6% 4.0% 4.9%
$10,000 to $14,999 2.1% 3.4% 3.6%
$15,000 to $24,999 4.9% 7.0% 6.6%
$25,000 to $34,999 7.6% 7.3% 6.8%
$35,000 to $49,999 10.4% 11.7% 10.4%
$50,000 to $74,999 16.2% 17.8% 15.7%
$75,000 to $99,999 14.3% 14.1% 12.7%
$100,000 to $149,999 17.0% 18.4% 17.4%
$150,000 to $199,999 10.3% 8.4% 9.3%
$200,000 or more 14.7% 8.0% 12.6%

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