How long is the commute from West Des Moines, IA?

Name: Commute and cars in West Des Moines, IA, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Workers who live in West Des Moines, IA take an average of 18.3 minutes to get to work (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

71.0% of workers drive alone to work.

0.6% take public transportation.

0.8% of workers walk to work.

19.1% work from home.

3.9% of households have no vehicle.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Average commute: 18.3 minutes (±0.8)
Public transportation: 0.6%
Work from home: 19.1%
Households without a car: 3.9%

How people in West Des Moines get to work

Workers 16 and over by means of transportation to work, 2020–2024
Means of transportation	West Des Moines	Polk County	Iowa	United States
Drove alone	71.0% (±2.2 points)	72.4%	76.0%	68.8%
Carpooled	6.8% (±1.3 points)	8.4%	7.8%	8.5%
Public transportation	0.6% (±0.3 points)	0.5%	0.7%	3.2%
Walked	0.8% (±0.4 points)	1.4%	2.9%	2.4%
Other means (bicycle, taxi, motorcycle)	1.8% (±0.6 points)	1.5%	1.4%	2.0%
Worked from home	19.1% (±1.8 points)	15.7%	11.3%	15.1%

In West Des Moines, the average commute is lower than in Polk County (20.0 minutes).

It is also lower than in Iowa (19.8 minutes).

It is lower than the national figure (26.4 minutes).

In West Des Moines, the share commuting by public transportation is not measurably different from Polk County (0.5%).

It is not measurably different from Iowa (0.7%).

It is lower than the national figure (3.2%).

In Polk County, West Des Moines ranks 15 of 17 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest average commute.

Statewide, it ranks 726 of 918.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

Cars per household in West Des Moines

Occupied housing units by vehicles available, 2020–2024
Vehicles available	West Des Moines	Polk County	Iowa	United States
No vehicle	3.9% (±1.0 points)	5.8%	5.4%	8.4%
1 vehicle	40.7% (±2.4 points)	33.5%	30.5%	33.1%
2 vehicles	41.3% (±2.4 points)	39.3%	37.8%	36.6%
3 or more vehicles	14.2% (±1.5 points)	21.3%	26.3%	21.9%

In West Des Moines, the share of households without a vehicle is lower than in Polk County (5.8%).

It is also lower than in Iowa (5.4%).

It is lower than the national figure (8.4%).

Working from home and internet access in West Des Moines

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	West Des Moines	Polk County	Iowa	United States
Workers working from home	19.1% (±1.8 points)	15.7% (±0.6 points)	11.3% (±0.2 points)	15.1%
Households with a computer	97.6% (±0.7 points)	96.9% (±0.3 points)	94.7% (±0.1 points)	95.5%
Households with broadband internet	93.4% (±1.2 points)	91.9% (±0.6 points)	88.9% (±0.2 points)	91.0%

In West Des Moines, the share of households with a broadband subscription is higher than in Polk County (91.9%).

It is also higher than in Iowa (88.9%).

It is higher than the national figure (91.0%).

Average commute in places near West Des Moines

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with West Des Moines
Place	Distance	Average commute	Compared with this place
West Des Moines	—	18.3 minutes (±0.8)	—
Clive	4.5 mi	20.7 minutes (±1.9)	Higher
Cumming	4.6 mi	23.3 minutes (±3.0)	Higher
Windsor Heights	5.2 mi	14.4 minutes (±1.7)	Lower
Waukee	5.9 mi	19.8 minutes (±1.4)	Not measurably different
Urbandale	6.0 mi	18.9 minutes (±0.9)	Not measurably different
Norwalk	6.4 mi	21.6 minutes (±1.9)	Higher
Van Meter	8.6 mi	22.0 minutes (±1.6)	Higher
Grimes	8.9 mi	19.6 minutes (±1.3)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Windsor Heights, IA (14.4 minutes).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Clive, IA (20.7 minutes), Cumming, IA (23.3 minutes), Norwalk, IA (21.6 minutes).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Average commute across Polk County, place by place

Rank	Place	Average commute
9	Ankeny	21.1 minutes (±1.0)
10	Clive	20.7 minutes (±1.9)
11	Johnston	19.7 minutes (±1.2)
12	Grimes	19.6 minutes (±1.3)
13	Des Moines	19.5 minutes (±0.5)
14	Urbandale	18.9 minutes (±0.9)
15	West Des Moines	18.3 minutes (±0.8)
16	Saylorville	17.5 minutes (±1.6)
17	Windsor Heights	14.4 minutes (±1.7)

Showing 9 of 17 places in Polk County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about West Des Moines

How long is the average commute in West Des Moines?

Workers who live in West Des Moines, IA take an average of 18.3 minutes each way (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Can you live in West Des Moines without a car?

3.9% of households in West Des Moines have no vehicle, and 0.6% of workers commute by public transportation.

How many people work from home in West Des Moines?

19.1% (±1.8 points) of workers who live in West Des Moines worked from home, and 93.4% of households have a broadband subscription.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) for West Des Moines city, Iowa (place:83910, in state:19).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP03_0018E, DP03_0018M, DP03_0025E, DP03_0025M, DP03_0019PE, DP03_0019PM, DP03_0020PE, DP03_0020PM, DP03_0021PE, DP03_0021PM, DP03_0022PE, DP03_0022PM, DP03_0023PE, DP03_0023PM, DP03_0024PE, DP03_0024PM, DP04_0058PE, DP04_0058PM, DP04_0059PE, DP04_0059PM, DP04_0060PE, DP04_0060PM, DP04_0061PE, DP04_0061PM, DP02_0153PE, DP02_0153PM, DP02_0154PE, DP02_0154PM

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.