What percentage of people rent in West Des Moines, IA?

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

42.6% (±2.3 points) of the occupied homes in West Des Moines, IA are rented (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

That is 13,742 renting households against 18,491 that own their home.

In West Des Moines, the share of households that rent went from 38.9% in 2015–2019 to 42.6% in 2020–2024 (+3.7 percentage points), a measurable increase.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Households that rent: 42.6% (±2.3 points)
Renting households: 13,742 (±872)
Median renter income: $54,110 (±$4,842)

Who rents and who owns in West Des Moines

Tenure, estimate (90% margin of error)
	West Des Moines	Polk County	Iowa	United States
Renter-occupied share	42.6% (±2.3 points)	32.6% (±0.8 points)	28.3% (±0.3 points)	34.8%
Renting households	13,742 (±872)	67,049 (±1,779)	372,311 (±3,635)	45,017,354
Owning households	18,491 (±830)	138,309 (±1,741)	943,396 (±5,414)	84,210,142
Average renter household size	1.8 (±0.1)	2.0 (±0.0)	2.0 (±0.0)	2.3
Average owner household size	2.5 (±0.1)	2.6 (±0.0)	2.5 (±0.0)	2.6
Median renter household income	$54,110 (±$4,842)	$49,375 (±$1,747)	$43,297 (±$758)	$52,966
Median owner household income	$121,917 (±$6,224)	$106,164 (±$1,963)	$91,638 (±$512)	$100,009

In West Des Moines, the renter share is higher than in Polk County (32.6%).

It is also higher than in Iowa (28.3%).

It is higher than the national figure (34.8%).

In Polk County, West Des Moines ranks 1 of 17 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest renter share.

Statewide, it ranks 29 of 943.

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

How renting in West Des Moines has changed since 2015–2019

2015–2019 and 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates
	2015–2019	2020–2024	Amount of change	Verdict
Households that rent	38.9% (±1.8 points)	42.6% (±2.3 points)	+3.7 percentage points	Measurable increase
Median gross rent	$1,017 (±$36)	$1,237 (±$30)	+21.6%	No measurable change after inflation
Median household income	$76,368 (±$3,298)	$86,594 (±$2,354)	+13.4%	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.

Households that rent in places near West Des Moines

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with West Des Moines
Place	Distance	Households that rent	Compared with this place
West Des Moines	—	42.6% (±2.3 points)	—
Clive	4.5 mi	24.6% (±3.4 points)	Lower
Cumming	4.6 mi	12.4% (±9.6 points)	Lower
Windsor Heights	5.2 mi	21.3% (±8.7 points)	Lower
Waukee	5.9 mi	33.5% (±3.5 points)	Lower
Urbandale	6.0 mi	21.9% (±2.5 points)	Lower
Norwalk	6.4 mi	17.5% (±4.8 points)	Lower
Van Meter	8.6 mi	7.4% (±4.4 points)	Lower
Grimes	8.9 mi	29.1% (±5.6 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Clive, IA (24.6%), Cumming, IA (12.4%), Windsor Heights, IA (21.3%).

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

Households that rent across Polk County, place by place

Rank	Place	Households that rent
1	West Des Moines	42.6% (±2.3 points)
2	Des Moines	39.5% (±1.1 points)
3	Altoona	31.3% (±3.8 points)
4	Johnston	29.2% (±3.4 points)
5	Grimes	29.1% (±5.6 points)
6	Ankeny	28.7% (±2.6 points)
7	Clive	24.6% (±3.4 points)

Showing 7 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.

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Questions about West Des Moines

How many renters are there in West Des Moines?

West Des Moines has an estimated 13,742 (±872) renting households, 42.6% of its occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Is renting growing in West Des Moines?

In West Des Moines, the share of households that rent went from 38.9% in 2015–2019 to 42.6% in 2020–2024 (+3.7 percentage points), a measurable increase.

How big are renting households in West Des Moines?

A renting household in West Des Moines has 1.8 people on average, against 2.5 in an owned home.

How much do renters earn in West Des Moines?

The median renting household in West Des Moines, IA has an income of $54,110 (±$4,842) a year, against $121,917 for households that own their home.

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 DP04_0047PE, DP04_0047PM, B25064_001E, B25064_001M, B19013_001E, B19013_001M from the 2019 release.

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0047PE, DP04_0047PM, DP04_0047E, DP04_0047M, DP04_0046E, DP04_0046M, DP04_0049E, DP04_0049M, DP04_0048E, DP04_0048M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M, B25119_002E, B25119_002M

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.