Can you afford to live in West Des Moines?
Median household income, home values and rent in West Des Moines, IA — how they've changed since 2015 and how much of a typical paycheck housing takes compared with the rest of the country.
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
This story was assembled using AI and public data sources.
What it costs to live in West Des Moines.
Median household income: $84,925 — +19.3% since 2015 (not adjusted for inflation)
Median gross rent: $1,194/mo — +33.1% since 2015
Median home value, 2015 to 2023
- 2015: 188600
- 2023: 286300
Median household income
- West Des Moines: 84925
- Polk County: 81621
- IA: 73147
- U.S.: 78538
Median gross rent
- West Des Moines: 1194
- Polk County: 1113
- IA: 949
- U.S.: 1348
Share of income a typical renter spends on rent: 25.5% — U.S.: 30.2%
What it means
The typical household here earns $84,925 — slightly higher than the national figure of $78,538.
The typical renter here spends 25.5% of household income on rent, below the 30% cost-burden line.
Since 2015, rent has risen faster than income here (+33.1% versus +19.3%), before adjusting for inflation.
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates — Population, income, housing, education, commuting and poverty figures
- Census Bureau API — ACS Detailed Tables — The endpoint these pages are generated from
- data.census.gov — Look up the same tables for any place yourself
- ACS accuracy statement — Estimates carry margins of error; small places vary the most
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