West Des Moines, Iowa
Among the top 14% of US places for getting around.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade D, better than 23% of US places
WeatherWeather: grade D, better than 14% of US places
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade C, better than 38% of US places
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade A, better than 86% of US places
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade C, better than 50% of US places
- top 7% for commute time
- top 10% for walkability
- bottom 17% for air quality
West Des Moines is a mid-size city in Iowa with about 69,000 residents. It grades A for getting around and D for weather. Standout strengths include commute time, walkability, and natural disaster risk. It rates lower on sunny days and air quality.
Official websitewdm-ia.com (opens in new tab)
Climate
Warm summers · Cold winters · Moderate rain · Snowy
freez.
v.cold
cold
cool
comf.
warm
hot
warm
cool
cold
v.cold
66%45%clearovercast
Precipitation 4.7 in1.3 in
humid 100%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$82k74th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$47kbetter than 45% of US places
Home Value$267k73rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$1kbetter than 29% of US places
Monthly Owner Costs$2kbetter than 27% of US places
Property Tax Rate1.64%better than 20% of US places
Income Tax6.00%better than 29% of US places
Sales Tax6.94%better than 68% of US places
Estimated total tax burden13.59%better than 23% of US places
Unemployment2.8%better than 61% of US places
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)22°F14th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)75°F46th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation37.3 in36th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall36.5 inbetter than 25% of US places
Sunny Days194 daysbetter than 18% of US places
Summer Humidity65°Fbetter than 41% of US places
Comfortable Days88 daysbetter than 65% of US places
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk43.1better than 79% of US places
Air Quality51 AQIbetter than 17% of US places
School Quality65.8better than 60% of US places
Violent Crime818/100kbetter than 45% of US places
Property Crime1724/100kbetter than 25% of US places
Community
Population68,74498th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age36.227th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.3366th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio1.0056th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningD+1617th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)79.1%40th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)4.4%75th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)5.7%60th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)6.1%92nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)4.8%69th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time18 minbetter than 93% of US places
Walkability11.4/20better than 90% of US places
Airport Distance110 mibetter than 32% of US places
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access92.2%better than 73% of US places
Amenities Nearby36.80better than 32% of US places
Park & Nature AccessModeratebetter than 48% of US places
Similar places
Frequently asked questions
- Is West Des Moines an affordable place to live?
- West Des Moines is about average in cost. Its cost-of-living index is $47k, better than 45% of comparable areas.
- What is the median home value in West Des Moines?
- The median home value in West Des Moines is $267k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- What is the median household income in West Des Moines?
- Median household income in West Des Moines is $82k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- How much is rent in West Des Moines?
- Median gross rent in West Des Moines is $1k a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Is West Des Moines safe?
- West Des Moines is about average for safety comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 818/100k (better than 45%). Property crime is 1724/100k.
- What is the weather like in West Des Moines?
- West Des Moines averages 75°F in July and 22°F in January, with 37.3 in of annual precipitation and about 194 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in West Des Moines?
- Public-school quality in West Des Moines is above average, scoring better than 60% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in West Des Moines?
- The average one-way commute in West Des Moines is 18 min.
Other places in Polk County
Places near West Des Moines
Compare West Des Moines
Explore Iowa
Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- 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)