How old are the homes in West Des Moines, IA?

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

27.6% (±2.3 points) of the homes in West Des Moines, IA were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

4.2% were built before 1940.

19.3% were built in 2010 or later.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Built before 1980: 27.6% (±2.3 points)
Built before 1940: 4.2%
Built 2010 or later: 19.3%

When the homes in West Des Moines were built

Housing units by year structure built, 2020–2024
Year built	West Des Moines	Polk County	Iowa	United States
2020 or later	2.6% (±0.7 points)	3.0%	1.7%	2.0%
2010 to 2019	16.7% (±1.7 points)	13.9%	9.2%	9.4%
2000 to 2009	19.4% (±2.3 points)	13.6%	10.8%	13.6%
1990 to 1999	19.2% (±1.6 points)	12.5%	9.6%	12.4%
1980 to 1989	14.4% (±1.6 points)	8.5%	7.1%	12.9%
1970 to 1979	11.6% (±1.6 points)	12.5%	14.0%	14.2%
1960 to 1969	3.6% (±0.6 points)	7.8%	9.7%	9.9%
1950 to 1959	6.4% (±1.1 points)	9.8%	9.7%	9.5%
1940 to 1949	1.8% (±0.6 points)	4.3%	4.6%	4.4%
1939 or earlier	4.2% (±0.9 points)	14.2%	23.5%	11.7%

In West Des Moines, the share of homes built before 1980 is lower than in Polk County (48.6%).

It is also lower than in Iowa (61.5%).

It is lower than the national figure (49.7%).

In Polk County, West Des Moines ranks 11 of 17 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of homes built before 1980.

Statewide, it ranks 921 of 943.

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

Why the age of a home matters: lead-based paint

Federal law treats housing built before 1978 as likely to contain lead-based paint.

Before a lease or sale of most pre-1978 housing, the landlord or seller must disclose any known lead-based paint and hazards and give the tenant or buyer the EPA pamphlet (42 U.S.C. § 4852d; 40 CFR part 745, subpart F; 24 CFR part 35, subpart A).

A contractor paid to renovate, repair or paint a pre-1978 home must be a certified firm, use a certified renovator and follow lead-safe work practices under the Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (40 CFR part 745, subpart E) whenever the job disturbs more than 6 square feet of painted surface in a room or more than 20 square feet outside; window replacement and demolition always count (40 CFR 745.83).

Certification comes from EPA, or from the state where EPA has authorized the state to run the program.

The Census Bureau groups construction by decade, so the share built before 1978 lies between the share built before 1970 (16.0%) and the share built before 1980 (27.6%).

Homes built before 1980 in places near West Des Moines

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with West Des Moines
Place	Distance	Homes built before 1980	Compared with this place
West Des Moines	—	27.6% (±2.3 points)	—
Clive	4.5 mi	28.1% (±4.7 points)	Not measurably different
Cumming	4.6 mi	32.7% (±14.1 points)	Not measurably different
Windsor Heights	5.2 mi	91.0% (±13.4 points)	Higher
Waukee	5.9 mi	10.0% (±2.1 points)	Lower
Urbandale	6.0 mi	33.7% (±2.8 points)	Higher
Norwalk	6.4 mi	26.6% (±5.4 points)	Not measurably different
Van Meter	8.6 mi	45.4% (±14.8 points)	Higher
Grimes	8.9 mi	15.9% (±4.6 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Waukee, IA (10.0%), Grimes, IA (15.9%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Windsor Heights, IA (91.0%), Urbandale, IA (33.7%), Van Meter, IA (45.4%).

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

Homes built before 1980 across Polk County, place by place

Rank	Place	Homes built before 1980
5	Alleman	55.8% (±14.3 points)
6	Saylorville	54.4% (±14.5 points)
7	Urbandale	33.7% (±2.8 points)
8	Elkhart	28.3% (±10.8 points)
9	Clive	28.1% (±4.7 points)
10	Altoona	27.7% (±4.7 points)
11	West Des Moines	27.6% (±2.3 points)
12	Pleasant Hill	24.8% (±6.0 points)
13	Polk City	20.8% (±8.1 points)
14	Ankeny	18.9% (±1.9 points)
15	Grimes	15.9% (±4.6 points)
16	Bondurant	13.6% (±6.3 points)
17	Johnston	7.4% (±1.9 points)

Showing 13 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 old are most homes in West Des Moines?

27.6% of homes in West Des Moines, IA were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Do homes in West Des Moines need a lead paint disclosure?

A home built before 1978 does, before it is rented or sold, unless an exemption applies (42 U.S.C. § 4852d); between 16.0% and 27.6% of homes in West Des Moines were built before then.

Does a contractor need lead certification to work on older homes in West Des Moines?

Yes, when the job disturbs more than 6 square feet of paint in a room or 20 square feet outside, or replaces a window: the firm must be certified and a certified renovator must direct the work under the Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (40 CFR part 745, subpart E).

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — West Des Moines city, Iowa

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.

DP04_0017PE, DP04_0017PM, DP04_0018PE, DP04_0018PM, DP04_0019PE, DP04_0019PM, DP04_0020PE, DP04_0020PM, DP04_0021PE, DP04_0021PM, DP04_0022PE, DP04_0022PM, DP04_0023PE, DP04_0023PM, DP04_0024PE, DP04_0024PM, DP04_0025PE, DP04_0025PM, DP04_0026PE, DP04_0026PM

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.