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Des Moines County, Iowa

Among the top 10% of US counties for getting around.

AffordabilityAffordability: grade B, better than 53% of US counties
WeatherWeather: grade B, better than 68% of US counties
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade D, better than 13% of US counties
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade A, better than 90% of US counties
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade B+, better than 76% of US counties
  • top 3% for walkability
  • top 7% for commute time
  • bottom 2% for property crime

Des Moines County is a county in Iowa with about 39,000 residents. It grades A for getting around and D for safety & wellbeing. Standout strengths include walkability, commute time, and park & nature access. It rates lower on property tax rate and property crime.

Official websiteco.des-moines.ia.us (opens in new tab)

Climate

Warm summers · Cold winters · Moderate rain · Snowy

very cold
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cool
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warm
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v.cold
80%53%clearovercast
Precipitation 4.2 in1.7 in
humid 92%dry

Livability factors

Affordability

Median Household Income$58k42nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$42kbetter than 84% of US counties
Home Value$135k35th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$882better than 38% of US counties
Monthly Owner Costs$1kbetter than 57% of US counties
Property Tax Rate1.54%better than 13% of US counties
Income Tax6.00%better than 21% of US counties
Sales Tax6.94%better than 70% of US counties
Estimated total tax burden11.87%better than 18% of US counties
Unemployment2.9%better than 84% of US counties

Weather

Winter Temp (Jan)24°F20th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)76°F40th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation37.9 in38th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall21.6 inbetter than 38% of US counties
Sunny Days237 daysbetter than 51% of US counties
Summer Humidity65°Fbetter than 53% of US counties
Comfortable Days89 daysbetter than 76% of US counties

Safety & Wellbeing

Natural Disaster Risk55.8better than 43% of US counties
School Quality50.5better than 41% of US counties
Violent Crime1383/100kbetter than 19% of US counties
Property Crime3396/100kbetter than 2% of US counties

Community

Population38,82462nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age42.157th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.2343rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio0.9726th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningEven22nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)85.1%58th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)5.2%66th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)3.8%41st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)1.1%72nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)4.7%76th percentile — neutral, not ranked

Getting Around

Commute Time17 minbetter than 94% of US counties
Walkability11.6/20better than 97% of US counties
Airport Distance154 mibetter than 24% of US counties

Lifestyle & Connectivity

Broadband Access83.5%better than 51% of US counties
Amenities Nearby3.61better than 59% of US counties
Park & Nature AccessExcellentbetter than 86% of US counties

Frequently asked questions

Is Des Moines County an affordable place to live?
Des Moines County is relatively affordable. Its cost-of-living index is $42k, better than 84% of comparable areas.
What is the median home value in Des Moines County?
The median home value in Des Moines County is $135k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
What is the median household income in Des Moines County?
Median household income in Des Moines County is $58k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
How much is rent in Des Moines County?
Median gross rent in Des Moines County is $882 a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
Is Des Moines County safe?
Des Moines County is higher-crime than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 1383/100k (better than 19%). Property crime is 3396/100k.
What is the weather like in Des Moines County?
Des Moines County averages 76°F in July and 24°F in January, with 37.9 in of annual precipitation and about 237 sunny days a year.
How are the schools in Des Moines County?
Public-school quality in Des Moines County is about average, scoring better than 41% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
How long is the commute in Des Moines County?
The average one-way commute in Des Moines County is 17 min.

Other counties in Iowa

Polk CountyLinn CountyScott CountyJohnson CountyBlack Hawk CountyWoodbury CountyDallas CountyDubuque County

Explore Iowa

Iowa state overview

Data sources

  • EPA Smart Location Database
  • EPI Family Budget Calculator
  • FAA airport enplanements
  • FBI Uniform Crime Reports
  • FEMA National Risk Index
  • MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
  • NCES School Finance Survey
  • NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
  • NOAA nClimGrid
  • OpenStreetMap
  • Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
  • U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
  • USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)