Housing Value★★★★★★★★★★3.5 / 5Home values compared with local household income.
Living in West Des Moines, IA
Explore West Des Moines and see how it fits the life you want to build.
Overall Match7.8 / 10
Baseline match from currently available location scores. Choose priorities to personalize it.
West Des Moines at a Glance
Key facts and current data
Population71,083
Median Household Income$86,594
Median Home Value$309,000
Median Gross Rent$1,237
Median Age36.0
Average Household Size2.2
Unemployment2.4%
Work From Home19.1%
Homeownership57.4%
Housing Vacancy5.2%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year.
West Des Moines is a mid-sized community where local neighborhoods, nearby job centers and regional access can matter as much as citywide averages. Unemployment is relatively low, which is a positive current labor-market signal.
Experience the Area
Experience Life in West Des Moines Before You Move
Explore Short-Term Stays in West Des Moines →Stay options powered by Stay22 · affiliate
NarrowTheList highly recommends you spend a week or two in West Des Moines and experience everyday life before deciding whether it is the right place to call home. Use that time to explore neighborhoods, drive your normal routes, shop where residents shop, and get a feel for the area at different times of day.
NarrowTheList Ratings
Data-driven starter ratings. More categories appear automatically as new datasets are added.
Housing & Cost of Living in West Des Moines
Current housing indicators from the U.S. Census Bureau
Median Home Value$309,000
Median Gross Rent$1,237
Homeownership57.4%
Housing Vacancy5.2%
Home values are moderately high relative to local household income, making neighborhood-level price differences important for buyers. The housing mix leans toward owner-occupied homes while still supporting a meaningful rental market.
Jobs, Income & Remote Work
Employment and household-income context for West Des Moines, IA
Median Household Income$86,594
Unemployment2.4%
Work From Home19.1%
The reported unemployment rate is relatively low. Working from home is relatively common among employed residents.
Population & Household Profile
Who lives in West Des Moines and how households are structured
Population71,083
Median Age36.0
Average Household Size2.2
West Des Moines is a mid-sized community where neighborhood and nearby-employment patterns can materially affect a relocation decision.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year. NarrowTheList presents these values as relocation context; conditions can vary within a community.
Climate & Weather in West Des Moines
Long-term NOAA climate normals and practical seasonal context
NOAA climate normals for West Des Moines point to hot summers, cold winters, a wetter annual rainfall pattern and substantial annual snowfall.
Average Summer High85.6°F
Average Winter Low13.8°F
Annual Rainfall37.3 in.
Annual Snowfall36.5 in.
Seasonal Life in West Des Moines
What the long-term climate pattern may mean for everyday living.
Spring
Spring is a useful time to evaluate how quickly outdoor conditions become comfortable and how seasonal rain affects everyday routines.
Summer
Summer is warm enough that shade and cooling still matter, but the typical high is below the extreme-heat range seen in many hotter U.S. markets.
Fall
Fall marks a substantial seasonal transition here. It is a useful time to judge how quickly temperatures change and whether that seasonal swing fits the lifestyle you want.
Winter
Freezing winter lows and meaningful snowfall make snow removal, winter driving, heating costs and cold-weather routines important parts of evaluating the area.
Source: NOAA/NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020. Seasonal descriptions are relocation context derived from the available long-term normals, not a forecast.
County Intelligence
West Des Moines & Its Counties
Data Pending
Foreclosure Activity
West Des Moines spans Dallas, Madison, Polk and Warren counties.
Living in a community that crosses county lines can make location within West Des Moines especially important. Property taxes, housing characteristics, public services and other county-level factors may vary depending on which part of the community you call home.
Current NarrowTheList data for West Des Moines shows a population of about 71,083. These local figures become more useful when read together with county-level tax, housing, foreclosure and demographic conditions rather than treated as isolated city statistics.
Foreclosure Activity: Data Pending. A county-specific foreclosure signal is not available yet.
For someone comparing homes, county boundaries can matter because taxes, public services, court and recording systems, assessment practices and housing-market conditions are often administered or reported at the county level. NarrowTheList keeps that county relationship attached to the community so future tax, foreclosure, housing and demographic data can be interpreted in the correct geographic context.
County relationship
Dallas County, Madison County, Polk County and Warren County
How NarrowTheList uses it
NarrowTheList connects West Des Moines with all 4 of its counties rather than assigning the community to only one. As additional county data becomes available, those differences can be compared alongside city-level information to help identify which parts of the area may better fit your priorities.
For someone considering a move to West Des Moines, the available data currently points to a relatively tight labor market. These signals are most useful when considered alongside the specific neighborhood, commute and housing type that fit the household making the move.
Nearby Cities & Communities
Nearby incorporated cities, towns, villages and other municipalities shown by straight-line distance.