Des Moines, IA
Demographics And Statistics

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2023-12-15

Living In Des Moines, Iowa Summary

Life in Des Moines research summary. HomeSnacks has been using Saturday Night Science to research the quality of life in 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 Des Moines:

  • The population in Des Moines is 213,164.

  • The median home value in Des Moines is $194,392.

  • The median income in Des Moines is $62,378.

  • The cost of living in Des Moines is 87 which is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • The median rent in Des Moines is $995.

  • The unemployment rate in Des Moines is 5.9%.

  • The poverty rate in Des Moines is 15.2%.

  • The average high in Des Moines is 59.9° and the average low is 39.8°.

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 87 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 $194,392.

  • The median income in Des Moines is $62,378.

87
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 87 89 100
Services 93 95 100
Groceries 100 98 100
Health 97 99 100
Housing 70 73 100
Transportation 89 98 100
Utilities 87 94 100

Des Moines, IA Weather

  • The average high in Des Moines is 59.9° and the average low is 39.8°.

  • There are 65.5 days of precipitation each year.

  • Expect an average of 35.5 inches of precipitation each year with 33.7 inches of snow.

StatDes Moines
Average Annual High59.9
Average Annual Low39.8
Annual Precipitation Days65.5
Average Annual Precipitation35.5
Average Annual Snowfall33.7
59.9°
Average High
65.5°
Days of Rain

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 45,591

2

Ankeny, IA
Population 68,392

3

Clive, IA
Population 18,576

4

West Des Moines, IA
Population 68,744

5

Johnston, IA
Population 23,856

6

Norwalk, IA
Population 13,057

7

Altoona, IA
Population 20,017

8

Waukee, IA
Population 25,045

9

Grimes, IA
Population 15,402

10

Pleasant Hill, IA
Population 10,456

Des Moines Demographics And Statistics

Population over time in Des Moines

The current population in Des Moines is 213,164. The population has increased 5.5% from 2010.

Year Population % Change
2022 213,164 -1.3%
2021 215,932 0.5%
2020 214,778 0.9%
2019 212,859 2.3%
2018 208,020 0.6%
2017 206,702 0.6%
2016 205,415 0.5%
2015 204,362 0.5%
2014 203,386 0.6%
2013 202,095 -

Race / Ethnicity in Des Moines

White
63.4% (135,085)
African American
11.4% (24,382)
American Indian
0.1% (273)
Asian
6.5% (13,930)
Hawaiian
0.0% (19)
Other
0.3% (601)
Two Or More
3.9% (8,297)
Hispanic
14.3% (30,577)

Des Moines is:

  • 63.4% White with 135,085 White residents.

  • 11.4% African American with 24,382 African American residents.

  • 0.1% American Indian with 273 American Indian residents.

  • 6.5% Asian with 13,930 Asian residents.

  • 0.0% Hawaiian with 19 Hawaiian residents.

  • 0.3% Other with 601 Other residents.

  • 3.9% Two Or More with 8,297 Two Or More residents.

  • 14.3% Hispanic with 30,577 Hispanic residents.

Race Des Moines IA USA
White 63.4% 83.8% 58.9%
African American 11.4% 3.7% 12.1%
American Indian 0.1% 0.2% 0.6%
Asian 6.5% 2.5% 5.7%
Hawaiian 0.0% 0.1% 0.2%
Other 0.3% 0.2% 0.4%
Two Or More 3.9% 2.9% 3.5%
Hispanic 14.3% 6.5% 18.7%

Gender in Des Moines

Female
50.6% (107,906)
Male
49.4% (105,258)
  • Des Moines is 50.6% female with 107,906 female residents.

  • Des Moines is 49.4% male with 105,258 male residents.

Gender Des Moines IA USA
Female 50.6% 49.9% 50.4%
Male 49.4% 50.1% 49.6%

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

  • 7.0% of adults in Des Moines completed < 9th grade.

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

  • 29.0% 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.

  • 20.0% 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.

< 9th Grade
7.0% (14,921)
9-12th Grade
6.0% (12,789)
High School / GED
29.0% (61,817)
Some College
20.0% (42,632)
Associate's Degree
9.0% (19,184)
Bachelor's Degree
20.0% (42,632)
Master's Degree
6.0% (12,789)
Professional Degree
2.0% (4,263)
Doctorate Degree
1.0% (2,131)
Education Des Moines IA USA
< 9th Grade 7.0% 3.0% 4.0%
9-12th Grade 6.0% 4.0% 6.0%
High School / GED 29.0% 31.0% 26.0%
Some College 20.0% 20.0% 20.0%
Associate's Degree 9.0% 12.0% 9.0%
Bachelor's Degree 20.0% 20.0% 21.0%
Master's Degree 6.0% 7.0% 10.0%
Professional Degree 2.0% 2.0% 2.0%
Doctorate Degree 1.0% 1.0% 2.0%

Household Income For Des Moines, Iowa

  • 5.0% of households in Des Moines earn Less than $10,000.

  • 4.4% of households in Des Moines earn $10,000 to $14,999.

  • 8.0% of households in Des Moines earn $15,000 to $24,999.

  • 8.4% of households in Des Moines earn $25,000 to $34,999.

  • 13.7% of households in Des Moines earn $35,000 to $49,999.

  • 19.7% of households in Des Moines earn $50,000 to $74,999.

  • 14.9% of households in Des Moines earn $75,000 to $99,999.

  • 15.0% of households in Des Moines earn $100,000 to $149,999.

  • 5.5% of households in Des Moines earn $150,000 to $199,999.

  • 5.3% of households in Des Moines earn $200,000 or more.

Less than $10,000
5.0% (1,064,213)
$10,000 to $14,999
4.4% (929,448)
$15,000 to $24,999
8.0% (1,711,182)
$25,000 to $34,999
8.4% (1,799,187)
$35,000 to $49,999
13.7% (2,929,344)
$50,000 to $74,999
19.7% (4,202,899)
$75,000 to $99,999
14.9% (3,173,216)
$100,000 to $149,999
15.0% (3,199,594)
$150,000 to $199,999
5.5% (1,181,233)
$200,000 or more
5.3% (1,126,080)
Income Des Moines IA USA
Less than $10,000 5.0% 4.2% 4.9%
$10,000 to $14,999 4.4% 3.6% 3.8%
$15,000 to $24,999 8.0% 7.4% 7.0%
$25,000 to $34,999 8.4% 7.8% 7.4%
$35,000 to $49,999 13.7% 11.9% 10.7%
$50,000 to $74,999 19.7% 17.9% 16.1%
$75,000 to $99,999 14.9% 14.3% 12.8%
$100,000 to $149,999 15.0% 18.2% 17.1%
$150,000 to $199,999 5.5% 7.6% 8.8%
$200,000 or more 5.3% 7.1% 11.4%

Articles About Iowa

Enjoy The Snack?