Des Moines, IA — City Profile & Demographics 2026
Population 212,464 · Iowa · Updated May 2026
Population
212,464
Median Income
$63,966
Home Price
$210,703
Unemployment
5.8%
Poverty Rate
14.9%
Bachelor's+
29.0%
Full Demographics — Des Moines, IA
27 metrics across 8 categories, compared to US national averages.
Demographics
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 212,464 | — | |
| Pop. Density / sq mi | N/A | — | |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 38.9 | |
| Foreign Born | 14.0% | 13.8% | |
| White | 66.9% | 61.6% | |
| Black | 12.0% | 12.4% | |
| Asian | 6.2% | 6.0% | |
| Hispanic | 16.0% | 18.7% | |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | 13.2% |
Economy
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $63,966 | $74,580 | |
| Per Capita Income | $36,459 | $40,480 | |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $61,226 | $64,500 | |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8% | 3.8% | |
| Poverty Rate | 14.9% | 11.5% | |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 29.0% | 35.8% |
Housing
Source: Zillow ZHVI, Census ACS
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $210,703 | $410,000 | |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.5% | 65.4% |
Safety
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 296 | 380 | |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 1452 | 1950 |
Health
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 39.4% | 33.0% | |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 11.8% | 11.6% | |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 19.0% | 14.0% | |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 10.6% | 9.6% | |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 19.8% | 15.5% | |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 16.4% | 12.5% |
Climate
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 49.9°F | 54.5°F | |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 35.6 in | 30.2 in |
Air Quality
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 10.2 µg/m³ | 8.5 µg/m³ | |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 55.0% | 70.0% |
Commute
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 21.1 min | 27.0 min |
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About Des Moines, IA
Des Moines is a city in Iowa, United States. With a population of 212,464, it is one of the notable cities in the region. Compared to the US average, Des Moines shows stronger violent crime rate (296/100K violent crime vs 380/100K violent crime US avg) and commute time (21 min average commute vs 27 min average commute US avg). However, the city has a higher educational attainment at 29.0% bachelor's degree, compared to the US average of 35.8% bachelor's degree. Data sourced from US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Survey (2023), CDC PLACES, FBI CDE, NOAA, and EPA.