Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Des Moines, IA Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

212,421

Median Agei

34.6

Race & Ethnicityi

White

61%129,545

Hispanic/Latino

16.3%34,573

Black

11.1%23,574

Asian

6.6%13,931

Two or More

4.5%9,555

Other

0.4%833

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0.1%215

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.1%195

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

6.4%9,006

High School Diploma

21.9%30,667

Some College (<1 yr)

7.2%10,148

Some College (1+ yr)

12.2%17,132

Associate's Degree

9.5%13,360

Bachelor's Degree

20.4%28,597

Master's Degree

6.6%9,293

Professional Degree

1.7%2,442

Doctorate

1%1,336

HS or Higher

87%

BA or Higher

29.7%

Graduate+

9.3%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$194,700

Median Renti

$1,090

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

60.5%54,506

Renter-Occupied

39.5%35,599

Total Units

97,604

Homeownership

60.5%

Vacancy Rate

7.7%

Home Values

Under $50K

5%2,722

$50K–$100K

7.8%4,268

$100K–$150K

14.3%7,781

$150K–$200K

25.3%13,794

$200K–$300K

30.3%16,491

$300K–$500K

13.5%7,350

$500K–$1M

3.1%1,676

$1M+

0.8%424

Rent Distribution

Under $500

2,012

$500–$750

3,044

$750–$1,000

8,988

$1,000–$1,250

9,110

$1,250–$1,500

5,120

$1,500–$2,000

5,117

$2,000+

1,267

Year Built

2020 or later

0.9%922

2010–2019

8.3%8,075

2000–2009

7.4%7,227

1990–1999

6.7%6,521

1980–1989

6.4%6,200

1970–1979

11.9%11,585

1960–1969

9.5%9,274

1950–1959

14.8%14,483

1940–1949

7.4%7,250

1939 or earlier

26.7%26,067

Heating Fuel

Utility Gas

64.1%57,756

Electricity

33.1%29,822

Bottled/LP Gas

1.4%1,279

No Fuel

0.6%559

Other

0.5%449

Fuel Oil

0.2%138

Wood

0.1%78

Coal

0%12

Solar

0%12

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$65,932

Mean Household Incomei

$86,645

Per Capita Incomei

$37,863

Poverty Ratei

14.6%

Unemploymenti

5.6%

Labor Forcei

120,325

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

4.4%3,957

$10K–$15K

4%3,608

$15K–$20K

3.5%3,121

$20K–$25K

3.8%3,430

$25K–$30K

3.1%2,824

$30K–$35K

3.7%3,322

$35K–$40K

4.8%4,284

$40K–$45K

4.9%4,419

$45K–$50K

4.7%4,247

$50K–$60K

8.4%7,599

$60K–$75K

11.2%10,055

$75K–$100K

15%13,483

$100K–$125K

9.2%8,332

$125K–$150K

6.6%5,936

$150K–$200K

6.3%5,710

$200K+

6.4%5,778

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

4,892

Residentsi

6,834

Avg. Tenant Renti

$352/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

9 months

Programs in this community

Public Housing410 homes92% occupied$351/mo rent

Government-owned housing managed by local housing authorities

Housing Choice Vouchers102 homes74% occupied$185/mo rent

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

Project Based Section 81,487 homes90% occupied$361/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

202/PRAC126 homes77% occupied$389/mo rent

811/PRAC37 homes96% occupied$327/mo rent

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $65,932/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $20K/yr

90.2%

Very low income$20K–$33K/yr

9.6%

Low income$33K–$53K/yr

0.2%

Who Receives This Housing

59.7% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

38.4% of subsidized households are minority

25.3% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

62.9% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

30,14114.2%

By Region

Top Countries

Mexico

8,105

Guatemala

670

India

511

China

367

Philippines

218

Korea

203

Germany

169

United Kingdom

157

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

111,255

Avg. Commutei

19.5 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

113,468

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

8,179(5% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

92.8%Insured

7.2%Uninsured