How many renters in West Des Moines, IA pay more than 30% of their income on rent?

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

42.8% (±4.4 points) of renting households in West Des Moines, IA spend 30% or more of their household income on gross rent (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

32.7% spend 35% or more.

The median renting household spends 26.4% of its income on rent.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Paying 30% or more: 42.8% (±4.4 points)
Paying 35% or more: 32.7% (±3.6 points)
Median share of income: 26.4% (±1.8 points)

Rent as a share of income in West Des Moines

Renting households by gross rent as a percentage of household income, 2020–2024
Share of income spent on rent	West Des Moines	Polk County	Iowa	United States
Less than 15%	15.7% (±3.3 points)	12.7%	17.1%	12.6%
15% to 19.9%	16.1% (±2.8 points)	13.5%	14.6%	12.2%
20% to 24.9%	15.3% (±3.1 points)	15.6%	12.8%	12.6%
25% to 29.9%	10.1% (±2.5 points)	12.0%	11.6%	11.5%
30% to 34.9%	10.1% (±2.5 points)	10.7%	8.7%	9.2%
35% or more	32.7% (±3.6 points)	35.5%	35.2%	41.9%

Households whose income could not be measured against their rent (for example, those reporting no income) are left out of these shares, as the Census Bureau leaves them out.

West Des Moines against Polk County, its state and the nation

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	West Des Moines	Polk County	Iowa	United States
Paying 30% or more	42.8% (±4.4 points)	46.2% (±2.3 points)	43.9% (±0.8 points)	51.1%
Paying 35% or more	32.7% (±3.6 points)	35.5% (±1.9 points)	35.2% (±0.6 points)	41.9%
Median share of income	26.4% (±1.8 points)	28.4% (±0.9 points)	27.4% (±0.3 points)	30.6%
Median renter household income	$54,110 (±$4,842)	$49,375 (±$1,747)	$43,297 (±$758)	$52,966
Median gross rent	$1,237 (±$30)	$1,149 (±$16)	$972 (±$6)	$1,413

In West Des Moines, the share of renters paying 30% or more of income is not measurably different from Polk County (46.2%).

It is not measurably different from Iowa (43.9%).

It is lower than the national figure (51.1%).

In Polk County, West Des Moines ranks 9 of 16 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of renters paying 30% or more of income.

Statewide, it ranks 332 of 895.

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

Renters paying 30% or more of income in places near West Des Moines

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with West Des Moines
Place	Distance	Renters paying 30% or more of income	Compared with this place
West Des Moines	—	42.8% (±4.4 points)	—
Clive	4.5 mi	41.5% (±11.8 points)	Not measurably different
Cumming	4.6 mi	39.1% (±72.0 points)	Not measurably different
Windsor Heights	5.2 mi	62.2% (±23.8 points)	Not measurably different
Waukee	5.9 mi	32.9% (±6.2 points)	Lower
Urbandale	6.0 mi	38.5% (±8.5 points)	Not measurably different
Norwalk	6.4 mi	38.2% (±17.6 points)	Not measurably different
Van Meter	8.6 mi	15.2% (±50.8 points)	Not measurably different
Grimes	8.9 mi	27.9% (±10.3 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Waukee, IA (32.9%), Grimes, IA (27.9%).

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

Renters paying 30% or more of income across Polk County, place by place

Rank	Place	Renters paying 30% or more of income
3	Mitchellville	50.7% (±24.2 points)
4	Des Moines	48.8% (±3.2 points)
5	Pleasant Hill	47.6% (±18.3 points)
6	Altoona	47.4% (±13.1 points)
7	Johnston	46.2% (±9.0 points)
8	Polk City	45.3% (±40.5 points)
9	West Des Moines	42.8% (±4.4 points)
10 (tie)	Ankeny	42.4% (±7.2 points)
10 (tie)	Elkhart	42.4% (±36.1 points)
12	Clive	41.5% (±11.8 points)
13	Urbandale	38.5% (±8.5 points)
14	Bondurant	32.5% (±23.6 points)
15	Grimes	27.9% (±10.3 points)

Showing 13 of 16 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

Are renters in West Des Moines rent-burdened?

42.8% of renting households in West Des Moines pay 30% or more of their income in gross rent, the share housing researchers usually call rent-burdened (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

What share of income do renters in West Des Moines spend on rent?

The median renting household in West Des Moines, IA spends 26.4% (±1.8 points) of its household income on gross rent.

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 API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0136E, DP04_0136M, DP04_0137PE, DP04_0137PM, DP04_0138PE, DP04_0138PM, DP04_0139PE, DP04_0139PM, DP04_0140PE, DP04_0140PM, DP04_0141PE, DP04_0141PM, DP04_0142PE, DP04_0142PM, B25071_001E, B25071_001M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M

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.