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.

West Des Moines, IA Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

71,083

Median Agei

Race & Ethnicityi

White

77.4%54,992

Hispanic/Latino

6.5%4,603

Asian

6.3%4,504

Black

5%3,581

Two or More

4.3%3,082

Other

0.4%311

American Indian/Alaska Native

0%10

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

2.1%1,047

High School Diploma

13.4%6,635

Some College (<1 yr)

6.3%3,106

Some College (1+ yr)

10.2%5,058

Associate's Degree

9.3%4,625

Bachelor's Degree

35.9%17,774

Master's Degree

13.1%6,501

Professional Degree

3.9%1,918

Doctorate

2.1%1,030

HS or Higher

96.3%

BA or Higher

54.9%

Graduate+

19.1%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$309,000

Median Renti

$1,237

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

57.4%18,491

Renter-Occupied

42.6%13,742

Total Units

34,006

Homeownership

57.4%

Vacancy Rate

5.2%

Home Values

Under $50K

1.9%357

$50K–$100K

1.6%297

$100K–$150K

5%923

$150K–$200K

10.2%1,880

$200K–$300K

29%5,369

$300K–$500K

37.9%7,003

$500K–$1M

12.7%2,346

$1M+

1.7%316

Rent Distribution

Under $500

224

$500–$750

224

$750–$1,000

2,247

$1,000–$1,250

4,313

$1,250–$1,500

3,348

$1,500–$2,000

2,530

$2,000+

670

Year Built

2020 or later

2.6%878

2010–2019

16.7%5,691

2000–2009

19.4%6,594

1990–1999

19.2%6,537

1980–1989

14.4%4,892

1970–1979

11.6%3,940

1960–1969

3.6%1,241

1950–1959

6.4%2,193

1940–1949

1.8%607

1939 or earlier

4.2%1,433

Heating Fuel

Utility Gas

60.4%19,453

Electricity

37.6%12,118

Bottled/LP Gas

1.6%506

No Fuel

0.2%66

Other

0.2%65

Fuel Oil

0.1%17

Solar

0%8

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$86,594

Mean Household Incomei

$123,759

Per Capita Incomei

$57,275

Poverty Ratei

8.3%

Unemploymenti

2.4%

Labor Forcei

41,854

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

2.7%880

$10K–$15K

1.8%573

$15K–$20K

2.5%793

$20K–$25K

2.4%774

$25K–$30K

3.4%1,102

$30K–$35K

4.5%1,438

$35K–$40K

3.7%1,193

$40K–$45K

3.9%1,248

$45K–$50K

3.5%1,128

$50K–$60K

5.7%1,845

$60K–$75K

8.9%2,880

$75K–$100K

13.7%4,421

$100K–$125K

10.2%3,295

$125K–$150K

7%2,257

$150K–$200K

10.4%3,345

$200K+

15.7%5,061

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

484

Residentsi

806

Avg. Tenant Renti

$433/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

32 months

Programs in this community

Housing Choice Vouchers388 homes83% occupied$444/mo rent

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

Project Based Section 895 homes93% occupied$386/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $86,594/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $26K/yr

83%

Very low income$26K–$43K/yr

16%

Low income$43K–$69K/yr

Who Receives This Housing

75% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

33.5% of subsidized households are minority

21.8% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

41% 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

7,73110.9%

By Region

Top Countries

India

1,425

Mexico

862

China

408

Korea

268

Philippines

126

Germany

Canada

United Kingdom

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

40,107

Avg. Commutei

18.3 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

40,819

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

3,015(5.4% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

95.2%Insured

4.8%Uninsured

West Des Moines, IA Population, Income & Demographics 2026