Moving to Des Moines-West Des Moines
What you need to know before relocating to Des Moines-West Des Moines, Iowa. Data-driven insights on housing, jobs, safety, and quality of life.
Is Des Moines-West Des Moines a Good Place to Live?
Based on data across cost of living, job market, safety, and education, Des Moines-West Des Moines compares favorably on multiple dimensions. Highlights include rent ($1,137/mo) is below the national average; median household income ($82,728) exceeds the national median; low unemployment rate (2.7%) signals a strong job market.
Des Moines-West Des Moines at a Glance
Cost of Living in Des Moines-West Des Moines
The median rent in Des Moines-West Des Moines is $1,137/month, while the median home value is $276,600. With a median household income of $82,728, residents spend roughly 16% of monthly income on rent.
Overall, the Des Moines-West Des Moines metro area is classified as affordable compared to other US metros.
Job Market
Des Moines-West Des Moines has a median household income of $82,728, which is 11% above the national median. The local unemployment rate is 2.7%, compared to the national average of 3.7%.
Safety in Des Moines-West Des Moines
The violent crime rate in Des Moines-West Des Moines is 280 per 100,000 residents, which is 26% below the national average of 380.
Property crime rate: 1441 per 100,000 residents.
Education in Iowa
Iowa has a high school graduation rate of 92% and per-pupil spending of $16,021/year. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15:1.
35% of Iowa adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Healthcare Access
Iowa has 224 physicians per 100,000 residents, a 5.3% uninsured rate, and 3.2 hospital beds per 1,000 people. Life expectancy in Iowa is 78.0 years.
Pros and Cons of Living in Des Moines-West Des Moines
+Pros
- ✓Rent ($1,137/mo) is below the national average
- ✓Median household income ($82,728) exceeds the national median
- ✓Low unemployment rate (2.7%) signals a strong job market
- ✓Violent crime rate (280/100k) is well below the national average
- ✓High school graduation rate of 92%
- ✓Low uninsured rate (5.3%) and good healthcare access
-Cons
- ✗Longer-than-average commute (337366 min)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Des Moines-West Des Moines a good place to live?⌄
Des Moines-West Des Moines, Iowa has several attributes that make it an attractive place to live, including rent ($1,137/mo) is below the national average and median household income ($82,728) exceeds the national median. It scores well on multiple quality-of-life metrics relative to the national average.
What is the cost of living in Des Moines-West Des Moines?⌄
The median rent in Des Moines-West Des Moines is $1,137/month and the median home value is $276,600. The median household income is $82,728. Overall the metro is considered affordable.
Is Des Moines-West Des Moines safe?⌄
Des Moines-West Des Moines has a violent crime rate of 280 incidents per 100,000 residents. The national average is approximately 380 per 100,000.
What is the job market like in Des Moines-West Des Moines?⌄
Des Moines-West Des Moines has an unemployment rate of 2.7%, compared to the national average of 3.7%. The median household income is $82,728.