How long do people stay in their homes in West Des Moines, IA?

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

35.2% (±2.4 points) of households in West Des Moines, IA moved into their current home in 2020 or later (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

11.1% have lived in it since before 2000.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Moved in 2020 or later: 35.2% (±2.4 points)
Since before 2000: 11.1%

When households in West Des Moines moved in

Occupied housing units by year the householder moved in, 2020–2024
Moved in	West Des Moines	Polk County	Iowa	United States
2023 or later	6.6% (±1.3 points)	5.9%	4.7%	4.6%
2020 to 2022	28.6% (±2.0 points)	23.1%	19.6%	20.2%
2010 to 2019	38.4% (±2.2 points)	41.2%	38.7%	39.6%
2000 to 2009	15.2% (±1.9 points)	14.9%	16.4%	16.4%
1990 to 1999	6.8% (±1.1 points)	8.1%	9.9%	9.6%
1989 or earlier	4.3% (±0.7 points)	6.8%	10.8%	9.5%

A high share of recent movers usually means more renting households and more turnover; a high share of long-time residents usually means more owners who have stayed.

In West Des Moines, the share of households that moved in since 2020 is higher than in Polk County (29.0%).

It is also higher than in Iowa (24.3%).

It is higher than the national figure (24.8%).

Households that moved in since 2020 in places near West Des Moines

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with West Des Moines
Place	Distance	Households that moved in since 2020	Compared with this place
West Des Moines	—	35.2% (±2.4 points)	—
Clive	4.5 mi	22.6% (±4.3 points)	Lower
Cumming	4.6 mi	15.0% (±10.4 points)	Lower
Windsor Heights	5.2 mi	21.4% (±8.9 points)	Lower
Waukee	5.9 mi	42.2% (±4.2 points)	Higher
Urbandale	6.0 mi	26.0% (±2.6 points)	Lower
Norwalk	6.4 mi	28.2% (±5.7 points)	Lower
Van Meter	8.6 mi	11.7% (±5.1 points)	Lower
Grimes	8.9 mi	25.6% (±5.3 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Clive, IA (22.6%), Cumming, IA (15.0%), Windsor Heights, IA (21.4%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Waukee, IA (42.2%).

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

Households that moved in since 2020 across Polk County, place by place

Rank	Place	Households that moved in since 2020
1	Ankeny	35.6% (±3.0 points)
2	West Des Moines	35.2% (±2.4 points)
3	Bondurant	33.0% (±9.6 points)
4	Altoona	32.9% (±4.9 points)
5	Des Moines	29.5% (±1.3 points)
6	Johnston	29.3% (±4.2 points)
7	Elkhart	27.8% (±10.7 points)
8	Pleasant Hill	26.7% (±6.4 points)

Showing 8 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 often do people move in West Des Moines?

35.2% of households in West Des Moines, IA moved into their home in 2020 or later (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many long-time residents does West Des Moines have?

11.1% of households in West Des Moines have lived in their home since 1999 or earlier.

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_0051PE, DP04_0051PM, DP04_0052PE, DP04_0052PM, DP04_0053PE, DP04_0053PM, DP04_0054PE, DP04_0054PM, DP04_0055PE, DP04_0055PM, DP04_0056PE, DP04_0056PM

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.