Iowa / Census place 1921000

Des Moines

A Census profile of the people, homes, and daily patterns that shape this place.

Official Census name: Des Moines city

At a glance

A city in numbers.

Population
212,086
2025 estimate
Annual change
-0.1%
Population estimate
Density
2,406/sq mi
88.2 sq mi land area
Median age
34.6 years
ACS 5-year estimate

Living here

The everyday equation.

Households, homes, education, and the time it takes to get around.

Median household income
$65,932
Median home value
$194,700
Median gross rent
$1,090
Bachelor’s degree or higher
29.7%
Typical commute
19.5 min
Public transit commute
0.8%

Climate normals

The long view of weather.

Thirty-year averages, not a forecast. Temperature and precipitation describe the typical conditions recorded from 1991 through 2020.

Representative station: DES MOINES INTL AP (4 mi from place center)
Average high
60.5°F
Average low
41.3°F
Annual rainfall
36.5"
Annual snowfall
36.5"

Month by month

A year in Des Moines.

Typical high and low °F
JFMAMJJASOND
Typical precipitation inches
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Data vintage

Population is from the 2025 Population Estimates Program. Household, housing, education, and commute data are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-year release.

Similar places

More places to consider.

Selected by the closest mix of population, density, median home value, and average annual high.

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Population, housing, work, and travel data for this Census place.

Population
275,203
Median home
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SD

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Population, housing, work, and travel data for this Census place.

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Median home
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IL

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Population, housing, work, and travel data for this Census place.

Population
152,241
Median home
$265,800

Keep exploring

Compare Des Moines with Fort Wayne