Data / Des Moines, IA / Profile

Des Moines, IA in figures

A profile of Des Moines, IA from official statistics: 11 figures in 3 sections, each with its period, its change from a year earlier, its rank among similar places where a ranking exists, and its source.

Figures last updated on 2026-10-12.

People

Population in Des Moines, IA was 212,086 in 2025, down 0.1% from 2024, and the highest of 41 cities in Iowa.

Population212,0862025Down 0.1% from 2024The highest of 41 cities in Iowa
Median age34.6 years2024Unchanged from 2023The 9th lowest of 41 cities in Iowa
Foreign-born population share14.2%2024Up 0.2 percentage points from 2023The 5th highest of 41 cities in Iowa
Bachelor's degree or higher, population 25 and over29.7%2024Up 0.7 percentage points from 2023
210K211K212K213K214K2020202120222023202420252020: 213,682 persons2021: 212,434 persons2022: 210,530 persons2023: 210,633 persons2024: 212,277 persons2025: 212,086 persons
Population, 2020 to 2025. persons. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual estimates of the resident population for incorporated places, 1 July (Population Estimates Program, subcounty totals).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual estimates of the resident population for incorporated places, 1 July (Population Estimates Program, subcounty totals); U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B01002: median age, total population, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more); U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B05002: foreign-born population as a percentage of the total population, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more); U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a bachelor's degree or higher as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). Population and demography statistics and rankings

Work and income

Unemployment rate in Des Moines, IA was 4.1% (provisional) in August 2026, down 0.6 percentage points from August 2025, and tied for the 10th highest of 23 cities in Iowa.

Unemployment rate4.1%August 2026, provisionalDown 0.6 percentage points from August 2025Tied for the 10th highest of 23 cities in Iowa
Median household income$65,9322024Up 3.1% from 2023The 16th lowest of 41 cities in Iowa
Gini index442024Up 0.2 points from 2023The 20th highest of 41 cities in Iowa
234562021-072022-042023-012023-102024-072025-042026-082021-07: 5 %2021-08: 4.6 %2021-09: 3.7 %2021-10: 3.3 %2021-11: 3.1 %2021-12: 3.1 %2022-01: 4.5 %2022-02: 3.8 %2022-03: 3.5 %2022-04: 2.6 %2022-05: 2.8 %2022-06: 3 %2022-07: 3.3 %2022-08: 3.5 %2022-09: 2.8 %2022-10: 3 %2022-11: 3 %2022-12: 3.3 %2023-01: 4.6 %2023-02: 4 %2023-03: 3.7 %2023-04: 2.5 %2023-05: 3 %2023-06: 3.3 %2023-07: 3.4 %2023-08: 3.4 %2023-09: 2.9 %2023-10: 3.1 %2023-11: 2.8 %2023-12: 3.1 %2024-01: 4.2 %2024-02: 3.8 %2024-03: 3.4 %2024-04: 2.6 %2024-05: 3 %2024-06: 3.6 %2024-07: 4.1 %2024-08: 4.5 %2024-09: 3.5 %2024-10: 3.7 %2024-11: 4 %2024-12: 3.9 %2025-01: 5.1 %2025-02: 4.6 %2025-03: 4.4 %2025-04: 3.6 %2025-05: 3.7 %2025-06: 4 %2025-07: 4.3 %2025-08: 4.7 %2025-09: 3.8 %2025-11: 4 %2025-12: 4.2 %2026-01: 4.7 %2026-02: 4.3 %2026-03: 4 %2026-04: 3 %2026-05: 3.3 %2026-06: 3.5 %2026-07: 3.7 %2026-08: 4.1 %
Unemployment rate, July 2021 to August 2026. %. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, cities and towns, not seasonally adjusted: unemployment rate (measure 03).

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, cities and towns, not seasonally adjusted: unemployment rate (measure 03); U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B19013: median household income in the past 12 months, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more); U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B19083: Gini index of household income inequality (coefficient multiplied by 100), US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). Labor market statistics and rankings

Prices and housing

Median home value in Des Moines, IA was $194,700 in 2024, up 6% from 2023, and the 19th lowest of 41 cities in Iowa.

Median home value$194,7002024Up 6% from 2023The 19th lowest of 41 cities in Iowa
Median gross rent (monthly)$1,0902024Up 3.4% from 2023The 13th highest of 41 cities in Iowa
Homeownership rate (US, housing units)60.5%2024Up less than 0.1 percentage points from 2023The 5th lowest of 41 cities in Iowa
Housing units authorized by building permits1,6762025, estimatedUp 171.2% from 2024
140K150K160K170K180K190K200K20212022202320242021: 149,700 USD2022: 170,700 USD2023: 183,700 USD2024: 194,700 USD
Median home value, 2021 to 2024. USD. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B25077: median value (dollars), owner-occupied housing units, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B25077: median value (dollars), owner-occupied housing units, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more); U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B25064: median gross rent (dollars), renter-occupied housing units paying cash rent, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more); U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B25003: owner-occupied housing units as a percentage of occupied housing units, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more); U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation. Housing statistics and rankings

Sources and citations

Each figure comes from the table cited here. Cite the publisher; these citations include any notice the publisher requires.

  1. U.S. Census Bureau. Annual estimates of the resident population for incorporated places, 1 July (Population Estimates Program, subcounty totals). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/datasets/2020-2025/. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
  2. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B01002: median age, total population, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b01002.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
  3. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B05002: foreign-born population as a percentage of the total population, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b05002.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
  4. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a bachelor's degree or higher as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b15003.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
  5. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Local Area Unemployment Statistics, cities and towns, not seasonally adjusted: unemployment rate (measure 03). https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/la/la.data.0.CurrentU25-29. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
  6. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B19013: median household income in the past 12 months, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b19013.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
  7. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B19083: Gini index of household income inequality (coefficient multiplied by 100), US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b19083.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
  8. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B25077: median value (dollars), owner-occupied housing units, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b25077.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
  9. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B25064: median gross rent (dollars), renter-occupied housing units paying cash rent, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b25064.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
  10. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B25003: owner-occupied housing units as a percentage of occupied housing units, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b25003.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
  11. U.S. Census Bureau. Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation. https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/Midwest%20Region/mw2025a.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

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