How much are property taxes in West Des Moines, IA?

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

Homeowners in West Des Moines, IA pay a median of $4,711 (±$144) a year in real estate taxes (2020–2024 American Community Survey, table B25103).

Homes with a mortgage pay a median of $4,740.

Homes without a mortgage pay a median of $4,653.

That is about 1.5% of the median home value of $309,000.

In West Des Moines, the median real estate tax went from $3,721 in 2015–2019 to $4,711 in 2020–2024 (+26.6%).

Prices (CPI-U) rose 22.7% over the same years; the change is not measurably different from the rise in prices.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Median real estate taxes: $4,711 (±$144)
With a mortgage: $4,740
Without a mortgage: $4,653
Share of median value: 1.5%

Real estate taxes in West Des Moines against Polk County, its state and the nation

Median real estate taxes paid a year, estimate (90% margin of error)
	West Des Moines	Polk County	Iowa	United States
Median real estate taxes	$4,711 (±$144)	$4,396 (±$57)	$2,897 (±$13)	$3,119
Homes with a mortgage	$4,740 (±$164)	$4,503 (±$67)	$3,091 (±$28)	$3,489
Homes without a mortgage	$4,653 (±$262)	$4,130 (±$108)	$2,633 (±$21)	$2,576
Median home value	$309,000 (±$10,613)	$262,100 (±$3,486)	$208,000 (±$1,141)	$332,700

In West Des Moines, the median real estate tax is higher than in Polk County ($4,396).

It is also higher than in Iowa ($2,897).

It is higher than the national figure ($3,119).

In Polk County, West Des Moines ranks 11 of 17 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest median real estate taxes.

Statewide, it ranks 23 of 921.

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

Taxes as a share of home value in West Des Moines

The median tax ($4,711) is 1.5% of the median home value ($309,000).

Across Polk County the same ratio is 1.7%.

Across Iowa it is 1.4%.

This is a ratio of two medians, a rough effective rate: not the tax rate or mill rate the town, county or school district sets, and not any one home’s bill.

Owners report what they paid and what they think their home is worth; the assessor’s office publishes the actual rates and assessments.

How property taxes in West Des Moines have changed since 2015–2019

2015–2019 and 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates
	2015–2019	2020–2024	Amount of change	Verdict
Median real estate taxes	$3,721 (±$100)	$4,711 (±$144)	+26.6%	No measurable change after inflation
Median home value	$218,500 (±$6,347)	$309,000 (±$10,613)	+41.4%	Up after inflation
Median owner cost with a mortgage	$1,573 (±$45)	$1,845 (±$56)	+17.3%	Down after inflation

The Census Bureau publishes 2015–2019 dollars in 2019 dollars and 2020–2024 dollars in 2024 dollars.

Prices (the CPI-U, US Bureau of Labor Statistics) rose 22.7% between 2019 and 2024, so a dollar figure’s verdict compares the two after raising the earlier one by that much, using the Census Bureau’s test for a difference.

The two periods do not overlap, as the Census Bureau recommends for 5-year estimates.

Median real estate taxes in places near West Des Moines

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with West Des Moines
Place	Distance	Median real estate taxes	Compared with this place
West Des Moines	—	$4,711 (±$144)	—
Clive	4.5 mi	$5,944 (±$295)	Higher
Cumming	4.6 mi	$7,821 (±$1,958)	Higher
Windsor Heights	5.2 mi	$4,732 (±$462)	Not measurably different
Waukee	5.9 mi	$5,475 (±$360)	Higher
Urbandale	6.0 mi	$5,563 (±$215)	Higher
Norwalk	6.4 mi	$4,924 (±$476)	Not measurably different
Van Meter	8.6 mi	$4,164 (±$460)	Lower
Grimes	8.9 mi	$5,377 (±$555)	Higher

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Van Meter, IA ($4,164).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Clive, IA ($5,944), Cumming, IA ($7,821), Waukee, IA ($5,475).

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

Median real estate taxes across Polk County, place by place

Rank	Place	Median real estate taxes
5	Ankeny	$5,569 (±$200)
6	Urbandale	$5,563 (±$215)
7	Grimes	$5,377 (±$555)
8	Bondurant	$5,089 (±$581)
9	Pleasant Hill	$4,807 (±$391)
10	Windsor Heights	$4,732 (±$462)
11	West Des Moines	$4,711 (±$144)
12	Altoona	$4,392 (±$186)
13	Saylorville	$4,121 (±$450)
14	Elkhart	$3,747 (±$356)
15	Runnells	$3,657 (±$343)
16	Des Moines	$3,496 (±$57)
17	Mitchellville	$3,168 (±$341)

Showing 13 of 17 places in Polk County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates), compared with 2015–2019.

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

What you can do on Seayora in West Des Moines

One account for renting, owning, managing and fixing homes, with these figures beside you.

Own or manage a rental?

List it, sign the lease and collect rent online, with the figures for West Des Moines beside you.

Create a landlord account · See what landlords get

Looking for a place to rent?

Browse homes for rent near West Des Moines, save the ones you like and apply online.

Browse rentals · Create a renter account

Do repairs, renovations or maintenance?

Get found by owners and renters near West Des Moines, and send estimates and invoices from your phone.

Join as a pro · Find a pro

Questions about West Des Moines

How much are property taxes in West Des Moines?

The median real estate tax paid by homeowners in West Des Moines, IA is $4,711 (±$144) a year (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

What is the property tax rate in West Des Moines?

The Census Bureau does not publish tax rates; as a rough guide, the median tax paid is 1.5% of the median home value in West Des Moines, and the actual rate is set by the town, county and school district.

Have property taxes in West Des Moines gone up?

In West Des Moines, the median real estate tax went from $3,721 in 2015–2019 to $4,711 in 2020–2024 (+26.6%).

Prices (CPI-U) rose 22.7% over the same years; the change is not measurably different from the rise in prices.

Are property taxes in West Des Moines higher than in Polk County?

In West Des Moines, the median real estate tax is higher than in Polk County ($4,396).

It is also higher than in Iowa ($2,897).

It is higher than the national figure ($3,119).

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) and detailed tables (acs/acs5) 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 2015–2019 figures are B25103_001E, B25103_001M, B25077_001E, B25077_001M, B25088_002E, B25088_002M from the 2019 release.

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

B25103_001E, B25103_001M, B25103_002E, B25103_002M, B25103_003E, B25103_003M, DP04_0089E, DP04_0089M

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.