Census ACS · #82 MSA
Des Moines Metro Area
The Des Moines-West Des Moines, Ia Metropolitan Statistical Area has 720,331 residents. The median household income is $84,209 and the median home value is $252,400.
720,331
Population
199
People / sq mi
$84,209
Median Income
$252,400
Median Home Value
The Des Moines CBSA covers 3,613 sq mi of land at 199.4 people per square mile.
Race & Ethnicity
| White | 81.5% |
| Black or African American | 5.7% |
| Asian | 0.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1.1% |
Economy & Income
$84,209
Median Household Income
$44,796
Per Capita Income
6.2%
Poverty Rate
2.9%
Unemployment
Cost of Living
The Des Moines metro's price level is 91.7 on the BEA Regional Price Parity index (US average = 100), meaning prices are 8.3% lower the US average. The local median income of $84,209 has the buying power of $91,830 in average-priced US metros.
91.7
Price Level (US = 100)
$91,830
COL-Adjusted Median Income
$84,209
Nominal Median Income
Housing
$252,400
Median Home Value
$1,113
Median Rent
69.5%
Homeownership
Education
93.5%
High School+
39.1%
Bachelor's+
Commute
0.5%
Drive Alone
14.3%
Work From Home
20.8 min
Avg Commute
21.2%
Foreign Born
Des Moines spans this state
Nearby metros
Largest cities in Iowa
Largest counties in Iowa
Part of Iowa
Other metros
Metro areas in Iowa
Metro rankings
Frequently Asked Questions
The Des Moines-West Des Moines, Ia Metropolitan Statistical Area has a population of 720,331 according to Census ACS 5-Year estimates, making it the #82 largest CBSA in the US.
The median household income in the Des Moines metro area is $84,209, with a per capita income of $44,796.
The Des Moines-West Des Moines, Ia CBSA spans the state of Iowa.
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More from Iowa
Data for the Des Moines-West Des Moines, Ia CBSA (19780) from the American Community Survey 5-Year estimates. Core-Based Statistical Areas combine cities, suburbs, and surrounding counties tied together by commuting patterns.
Among US metro areas, Des Moines stands out first on household income: a median of $84,209, above the US median of $78,538. Des Moines is a metro area in IA with a population of 720,331.
Median household income is $84,209, above the US median of $78,538. The poverty rate, 6.2%, is on the lower side for US metro areas and below the national 12.4%. Median home value is $252,400, with typical rent around $1,113.
College attainment is above the local norm at 39.1%, above the national 35.0%.
Taken together, the income and housing figures place Des Moines firmly in the higher-cost, higher-earning tier of US metro areas — a profile that tends to track dense job markets and competitive housing.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, 2026.