The Town FilesDes Moines, Iowa
City in Polk County · population 214,133 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $194,700
- Household income
- $65,932
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 37 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 54
- Median age
- 34.6
Des Moines is a city of 214,133 people in Polk County, Iowa. The median home is worth $194,700, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks more walkable than 100% of Iowa towns, more vibrant than 99% of Iowa towns, better transit than 99% of Iowa towns.
How Des Moines ranks
Percentile among Iowa towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Iowa towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Des Moines is worth $194,700, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $65,932, which is more affordable than 14% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $1,090 a month. 60.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Des Moines | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $194,700 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $1,090 | $820 |
| Median household income | $65,932 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 60.5% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1961 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Des Moines
| People | Des Moines | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.6 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.7% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.7% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.0% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 5.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 14.2% | — |
| Work from home | 13.1% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 19.5 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.8% | 88.5% |
Weather in Des Moines
July highs average 85.6°F and January lows 13.8°F. About 36.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 36.5 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 22 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 128 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
54 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Des Moines since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 14 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 18, 1974 about 2.8 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 135 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 15, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 337 times; the largest was 3.25 inches on July 9, 2021.
Severe weather in Polk County since 1996
Polk County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4942: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| May 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4784: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| May 14, 2024 | Tornado | DR-4779: Severe Storms And Tornadoes |
| August 17, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4557: Severe Storms |
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Polk County
Polk County had 317,845 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $72,557 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Des Moines itself the ACS puts it at 5.6%.
Public schools in Des Moines
64 public schools with 31,874 students, about 15.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln High School | 9-12 | 2,441 | 27.4 |
| Roosevelt High School | 9-12 | 2,039 | 30.9 |
| East High School | 9-12 | 2,014 | 23.7 |
| North High School | 9-12 | 1,514 | 22.3 |
| Hoover High School | 9-12 | 923 | 22.5 |
| Weeks Middle School | 6-8 | 668 | 16.3 |
| Meredith Middle School | 6-8 | 653 | 14.5 |
| Merrill Middle School | 6-8 | 651 | 17.6 |
| McCombs Middle School | 6-8 | 644 | 16.5 |
| Harding Middle School | 6-8 | 634 | 16.7 |
| Brubaker Elementary School | K-5 | 618 | 12.1 |
| Brody Middle School | 6-8 | 598 | 18.7 |
Towns near Des Moines
- Pleasant Hill, IA5.7 mi · 10,147 people · home $295,100
- Windsor Heights, IA5.7 mi · 5,252 people · home $267,900
- Carlisle, IA7.5 mi · 4,160 people · home $234,300
- Saylorville, IA7.5 mi · 3,584 people · home $314,300
- Norwalk, IA7.6 mi · 12,799 people · home $303,100
- Altoona, IA8.6 mi · 19,565 people · home $274,600
- West Des Moines, IA9.0 mi · 68,723 people · home $309,000
- Urbandale, IA9.8 mi · 45,580 people · home $335,500
Des Moines questions
Is Des Moines, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Des Moines scores better for retirees than 0% of Iowa towns and quieter than 2%. 12.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.6).
How much does a house cost in Des Moines?
The median owner-occupied home in Des Moines is valued at $194,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,932, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $1,090 a month.
What is the weather like in Des Moines?
July highs average 85.6°F and January lows 13.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.5 inches of precipitation a year and 36.5 inches of snow.
Does Des Moines get tornadoes?
54 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Des Moines since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 18, 1974. The typical Iowa town has had 24.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)