Economy, jobs and prices in Des Moines, Iowa: official figures
The median household income in Des Moines was $65,932 a year in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey (in 2024 dollars), 227th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US median was $80,734 and the Iowa median $75,059.
What is the per capita income in Des Moines?
Income per resident (per capita income) in Des Moines averaged $37,863 a year in 2020-2024, 332nd lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $44,673; Iowa: $40,877).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow unequal are incomes in Des Moines?
Des Moines' Gini index of household income inequality was 0.440 in 2020-2024 (0 means equal incomes, 1 maximum inequality), 348th least unequal of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US figure was 0.483.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Des Moines, Iowa?
5.6% of the civilian labor force in Des Moines was unemployed on average over 2020-2024 (6,755 people), 342nd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US rate in the same survey was 5.2% and Iowa's 3.6%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Des Moines have jobs?
113,468 residents of Des Moines held civilian jobs, 67.1% of those aged 16 and over (US: 59.7%), and 102 served in the armed forces.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Des Moines?
The largest industry group for working residents of Des Moines was education, health care and social assistance (20.2% of employed residents), followed by finance, insurance and real estate (11.4%) and professional, scientific, management and administrative services (11.1%), 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Des Moines work in manufacturing?
Manufacturing employed 10.4% of working residents of Des Moines, 295th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 9.9%); professional, scientific and management services employed 11.1% (US: 12.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow long is the commute in Des Moines, Iowa?
Commuters in Des Moines took 19.5 minutes on average to get to work in 2020-2024, 133rd shortest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 26.4 minutes); 3.3% travelled an hour or more and 33.6% less than 15 minutes.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow do people in Des Moines get to work?
13.1% of workers living in Des Moines worked from home in 2020-2024, 380th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 15.1%). 70.9% drove to work alone, 11.0% carpooled, 0.8% used public transport and 2.4% walked.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the average rent in Des Moines, Iowa?
The median gross rent (rent plus utilities) in Des Moines was $1,090 a month in 2020-2024, 130th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $1,413; Iowa: $972).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does a house cost in Des Moines?
Owner-occupied homes in Des Moines had a median value of $194,700 in 2020-2024 as estimated by their owners, 105th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $332,700; Iowa: $208,000).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow affordable are homes in Des Moines?
The median home value in Des Moines was 3.0 times the median household income, 83rd lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 4.1 times).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in Des Moines have no internet?
6.3% of households in Des Moines (5,694) had no internet access at home in 2020-2024, 249th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.5%); 15.7% relied on a cellular data plan alone (US: 11.5%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Des Moines compares with other cities in the United States
Median household income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)
Des Moines ranks 597 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median household income (2024 dollars) |
|---|---|---|
| 594 | Norfolk | $66,109 |
| 595 | Columbus | $66,082 |
| 596 | Springfield | $66,064 |
| 597 | Des Moines | $65,932 |
| 598 | Amarillo | $65,912 |
| 599 | San Angelo | $65,864 |
| 600 | Dubuque | $65,845 |
Per capita income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)
Des Moines ranks 492 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Per capita income (2024 dollars) |
|---|---|---|
| 489 | Lebanon | $37,959 |
| 490 | St. George | $37,943 |
| 491 | Largo | $37,939 |
| 492 | Des Moines | $37,863 |
| 493 | Columbus | $37,860 |
| 494 | Albany | $37,843 |
| 495 | Iowa City | $37,842 |
Gini index of household income inequality (2020-2024)
Des Moines ranks 476 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Gini index of household income inequality |
|---|---|---|
| 473 | Hawthorne | 0.440 |
| 474 | St. George | 0.440 |
| 475 | West Sacramento | 0.440 |
| 476 | Des Moines | 0.440 |
| 477 | El Monte | 0.440 |
| 478 | Richland | 0.439 |
| 479 | Lenexa | 0.439 |
Unemployment rate (share of civilian labor force) (2020-2024)
Des Moines ranks 342 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Unemployment rate (share of civilian labor force) |
|---|---|---|
| 339 | Johnson City | 5.6% |
| 340 | Independence | 5.6% |
| 341 | Buena Park | 5.6% |
| 342 | Des Moines | 5.6% |
| 343 | Richland | 5.6% |
| 344 | Glendale | 5.6% |
| 345 | Roanoke | 5.6% |
Labor force participation rate (16 and over) (2020-2024)
Des Moines ranks 108 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Labor force participation rate (16 and over) |
|---|---|---|
| 105 | Palatine | 71.3% |
| 106 | Kirkland | 71.2% |
| 107 | Waukesha | 71.2% |
| 108 | Des Moines | 71.1% |
| 109 | Portland | 71.1% |
| 110 | Miramar | 71.1% |
| 111 | Chandler | 71.1% |
Mean travel time to work (minutes) (2020-2024)
Des Moines ranks 691 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Mean travel time to work (minutes) |
|---|---|---|
| 688 | Chapel Hill | 19.5 |
| 689 | Fort Collins | 19.5 |
| 690 | Salt Lake City | 19.5 |
| 691 | Des Moines | 19.5 |
| 692 | Springfield | 19.4 |
| 693 | Pueblo | 19.4 |
| 694 | Columbus | 19.4 |
Workers who worked from home (2020-2024)
Des Moines ranks 444 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Workers who worked from home |
|---|---|---|
| 441 | Duluth | 13.2% |
| 442 | Kyle | 13.2% |
| 443 | Arlington | 13.1% |
| 444 | Des Moines | 13.1% |
| 445 | Chesapeake | 13.1% |
| 446 | Houston | 13.0% |
| 447 | Cranston | 13.0% |
Workers commuting by public transportation (2020-2024)
Des Moines ranks 496 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Workers commuting by public transportation |
|---|---|---|
| 493 | Council Bluffs | 0.8% |
| 494 | Lincoln | 0.8% |
| 495 | Oshkosh | 0.8% |
| 496 | Des Moines | 0.8% |
| 497 | Carlsbad | 0.8% |
| 498 | Tustin | 0.8% |
| 499 | Merced | 0.8% |
Employed residents working in manufacturing (2020-2024)
Des Moines ranks 295 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Employed residents working in manufacturing |
|---|---|---|
| 292 | Fort Worth | 10.4% |
| 293 | Ontario | 10.4% |
| 294 | Temple | 10.4% |
| 295 | Des Moines | 10.4% |
| 296 | Petaluma | 10.4% |
| 297 | West Covina | 10.4% |
| 298 | Vancouver | 10.4% |
Employed residents in education, health care and social assistance (2020-2024)
Des Moines ranks 649 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Employed residents in education, health care and social assistance |
|---|---|---|
| 646 | Vancouver | 20.2% |
| 647 | Mesquite | 20.2% |
| 648 | Homestead | 20.2% |
| 649 | Des Moines | 20.2% |
| 650 | San Jacinto | 20.2% |
| 651 | Rochester Hills | 20.2% |
| 652 | Paramount | 20.1% |
Median gross rent per month (2020-2024)
Des Moines ranks 694 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median gross rent per month |
|---|---|---|
| 691 | Amarillo | $1,092 |
| 692 | Lawrence | $1,091 |
| 693 | Midwest City | $1,091 |
| 694 | Des Moines | $1,090 |
| 695 | Norman | $1,090 |
| 696 | Montgomery | $1,089 |
| 697 | Winston-Salem | $1,087 |
Median value of owner-occupied homes (2020-2024)
Des Moines ranks 719 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median value of owner-occupied homes |
|---|---|---|
| 716 | St. Louis | $197,500 |
| 717 | Baytown | $197,300 |
| 718 | Amarillo | $196,900 |
| 719 | Des Moines | $194,700 |
| 720 | Dothan | $194,000 |
| 721 | Columbus | $193,900 |
| 722 | Laredo | $193,500 |
Median home value as a multiple of median household income (2020-2024)
Des Moines ranks 738 of 820, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median home value as a multiple of median household income |
|---|---|---|
| 735 | Blue Springs | 3.0x |
| 736 | Rochester | 3.0x |
| 737 | O'Fallon | 3.0x |
| 738 | Des Moines | 3.0x |
| 739 | Wichita | 3.0x |
| 740 | St. Peters | 2.9x |
| 741 | Aurora | 2.9x |
Occupied homes lived in by their owners (2020-2024)
Des Moines ranks 358 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Occupied homes lived in by their owners |
|---|---|---|
| 355 | Auburn | 60.6% |
| 356 | Bakersfield | 60.6% |
| 357 | Overland Park | 60.5% |
| 358 | Des Moines | 60.5% |
| 359 | Lancaster | 60.4% |
| 360 | Coral Springs | 60.3% |
| 361 | West Covina | 60.3% |
Households with a broadband subscription (2020-2024)
Des Moines ranks 622 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households with a broadband subscription |
|---|---|---|
| 619 | Fort Myers | 89.9% |
| 620 | West Allis | 89.9% |
| 621 | Santa Maria | 89.8% |
| 622 | Des Moines | 89.8% |
| 623 | El Monte | 89.8% |
| 624 | Jackson | 89.8% |
| 625 | Gastonia | 89.8% |
Households with no internet access (2020-2024)
Des Moines ranks 249 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households with no internet access |
|---|---|---|
| 246 | Little Rock | 6.4% |
| 247 | Oakland | 6.4% |
| 248 | Daytona Beach | 6.3% |
| 249 | Des Moines | 6.3% |
| 250 | Wichita | 6.3% |
| 251 | Pompano Beach | 6.3% |
| 252 | Temple | 6.3% |
More on Des Moines: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · all cities in the United States
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B08013: Aggregate Travel Time to Work (in Minutes) of Workers by Sex (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 6939fdfa046fd5bb829ec8da9549e66298cc740f6a3f5dd60e1920a08e3083fb), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5f94e7878b6a…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B23025: Employment Status for the Population 16 Years and Over (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 264a5bd9367c5f58d9773fa4966fa94fe1e02f9c7106bc2ab39168d6de7c3e4a), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 2630e6946370…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B19083: Gini Index of Income Inequality (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 338f7a1191eaaf3913913e78c36aaa9d82f2b5c8faaf889be2e597b28869205e), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b8cf854b1f94…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table C24030: Sex by Industry for the Civilian Employed Population 16 Years and Over (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 66a2799a71a5fc36f0e3bc22767fe5bdd8f96eb29e85b91311e990d35cc14114), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5d717c57e7e4…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B19013: Median Household Income in the Past 12 Months (in 2024 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 b25a176b0e6c339b6f3a2a0d3d8446bf06f5f080b4395993ec9a8313efb1c229), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1d8a264807c6…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B08301: Means of Transportation to Work (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 552b24c135b6e7c566910914a861cda6fc798ba0cd47801b1eb64295a128c2ee), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 eaf823006d53…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B19301: Per Capita Income in the Past 12 Months (in 2024 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 9fc107e98fee7fa49bb8314560205569184fad65fb64b80adb5c5bdd83ccc409), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 24c1e725b26a…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25064: Median Gross Rent (Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 b36e6dc1fcef36b8b307d31b37517b64c80d8b9c70d48c9b1894242860f42eb0), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b842a7ff825c…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25077: Median Value (Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 89eb2153764a2330b23959d8bbc29b3a8f3016f087b990f2a8ea0d5096d9a816), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 22b59a3b1acb…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B28002: Presence and Types of Internet Subscriptions in Household (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 12446ff0691b8818f5908cdc398817361772c5b3078c506d0409adc9c841840b), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4b375b368bf9…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25003: Tenure (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 68e963e1ed60fcf6b0658579cefc6498b7a9eb780b9f3e87fd1b9775c4d4ac6c), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 2983c28f47fa…)
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