Town guide

Des Moines, Iowa

Des Moines is a city in Polk County, Iowa, home to about 212,421 people across 88 square miles. Its ZIP codes are 50309, 50310, 50311, 50312, 50313, 50314, 50315, 50316, 50317, 50319, 50320 and 50321, and parts of 50047, 50211 and 50322 are in Des Moines too.

Homes sold for a median of $203 per square foot across 11 ZIP codes in the three months ending August 2026, and 9 of 11 were seller’s markets.

Population212,4212,409 per sq mi

Median home value$194,700Census, as estimated by owners

Price per sq ft$203Sold homes, 3 months to August 2026

Sold over asking17%Median of 11 ZIP codes

ZIP codes in Des Moines

15 ZIP codes, 3 shared with neighboring towns

Des Moines, IA50309 Buyer’s market $213/sq ft −6.1% vs. last year 6.9 months of supply · 8% sold over asking Competition 11/100

All in Des Moines

Des Moines, IA50310 Seller’s market $212/sq ft +0.2% vs. last year 1.9 months of supply · 17% sold over asking Competition 60/100

Mostly Des Moines

Des Moines, IA50311 Seller’s market $202/sq ft +3.4% vs. last year 2.9 months of supply · 28% sold over asking Competition 60/100

All in Des Moines

Des Moines, IA50312 Seller’s market $221/sq ft +8.4% vs. last year 2.9 months of supply · 16% sold over asking Competition 43/100

All in Des Moines

Des Moines, IA50313 Seller’s market $187/sq ft −4.1% vs. last year 2.8 months of supply · 18% sold over asking Competition 56/100

Mostly Des Moines; also Saylorville

Des Moines, IA50314 Seller’s market $140/sq ft −12.1% vs. last year 3.9 months of supply · 13% sold over asking Competition 28/100

All in Des Moines

Des Moines, IA50315 Seller’s market $187/sq ft −6.5% vs. last year 3.1 months of supply · 26% sold over asking Competition 59/100

All in Des Moines

Des Moines, IA50316 Seller’s market $159/sq ft +1.3% vs. last year 2.6 months of supply · 23% sold over asking Competition 55/100

All in Des Moines

Des Moines, IA50317 Seller’s market $203/sq ft +0.9% vs. last year 3.2 months of supply · 17% sold over asking Competition 49/100

Mostly Des Moines

Des Moines, IA50319Not enough recent sales for market figures yet.

All in Des Moines

Des Moines, IA50320 Seller’s market $205/sq ft +4.9% vs. last year 3.6 months of supply · 13% sold over asking Competition 42/100

Mostly Des Moines

Des Moines, IA50321 Balanced $212/sq ft +9.1% vs. last year 4.7 months of supply · 26% sold over asking Competition 57/100

All in Des Moines

Carlisle, IA50047 Seller’s market $205/sq ft −8.8% vs. last year 2.6 months of supply · 12% sold over asking Competition 53/100

Mostly Carlisle; part is in Des Moines

Norwalk, IA50211 Balanced $231/sq ft +2.9% vs. last year 4 months of supply · 22% sold over asking Competition 44/100

Mostly Norwalk; part is in Des Moines

Urbandale, IA50322 Seller’s market $202/sq ft −1.8% vs. last year 2.3 months of supply · 23% sold over asking Competition 62/100

Mostly Urbandale; part is in Des Moines

Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Des Moines. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology

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History
What it’s like to live there
Getting around
Things to do

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Des Moines at a glance

City · Polk County, IA

Population	212,4212,409 per square mile
Land area	88 square milesplus 2.5 of water
Median household income	$65,932average $86,645
Median home value	$194,700as estimated by owners
Median rent	$1,090/month
Homes lived in by owners	61%
Single-family houses	62% of homes
Median year built	1961
Average household	2.30 people
Median age	34.6
Average commute	20 minutes13% work from home
Adults with a degree	30%bachelor’s or higher

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for the place; town boundaries and ZIP code overlaps from the Census Bureau’s 2020 relationship files; market figures from Redfin, a national real estate brokerage. This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Around Des Moines

Distances

Nearest major airport	Des Moines International Airport (DSM)4 miles away
Nearest city of 250,000+	Omaha, NE129 miles away
Nearest city of 1 million+	Chicago, IL306 miles away

Straight-line distances from the center of Des Moines; driving is longer.

Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Who represents Des Moines

U.S. Representative · Iowa’s 3rd DistrictZachary Nunn (R)
U.S. SenatorChuck Grassley (R)
U.S. SenatorJoni Ernst (R)
GovernorKim Reynolds (R)

Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.

Population over time

Des Moines had 214,133 residents in the 2020 census, up 8% since 2000.

It’s the 1st largest of 1,019 towns in Iowa by population.

Polk County grew from 82,624 residents in 1900 to 492,401 in 2020.

Polk County, 1900–2020

Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).

Weather by month

Average highs peak around 86°F in summer, and winter lows average 14°F. About 36.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year, with about 37 inches of snow.

Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Des Moines Intl Ap, IA weather station (4 miles away).

Jobs in Polk County

295,413 jobs at 13,890 businesses in Polk County. The biggest industries by employees:

Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).

Health care

3,905 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Des Moines’s ZIP codes.

Nearest hospitals

Unitypoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist MediGeneral hospital · emergency room · CMS rating 3 of 5 · Des Moines1.6 miles
Mercyone Des Moines Medical CenterGeneral hospital · emergency room · CMS rating 1 of 5 · Des Moines1.7 miles
Broadlawns Medical CenterGeneral hospital · emergency room · CMS rating 3 of 5 · Des Moines3.1 miles

Providers with an office here

Primary care doctors	618
Specialist doctors	918
Dentists	166
Nurse practitioners and physician assistants	711
Mental health providers	1,137
Physical and occupational therapists	270
Optometrists	31
Chiropractors	54
Pharmacies	57

Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances; providers from the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), by practice address and primary specialty.

Places in and around Des Moines

Parks (104 nearby)

Water Works Park · 1,283 acres3.3 mi
Easter Lake Park · 411 acres3.4 mi
Ewing Park · 340 acres3.1 mi
Gray's Lake Park · 216 acres1.4 mi
Iowa State Capitol · 160 acres1.0 mi
Prospect Park · 137 acres3.4 mi

Grocery stores (34 nearby)

Hy-Vee0.9 mi
New Oriental Food Store1.0 mi
Tienda Mexicana1.4 mi
La Tapatia Grocery1.5 mi

Pharmacies (26 nearby)

Walgreens1.0 mi
Walgreens1.5 mi
CVS Pharmacy1.6 mi
Hy-Vee Pharmacy1.7 mi

Libraries (11 nearby)

Iowa Genealogical Society1.0 mi
Des Moines Central Public Library1.3 mi
Des Moines Forest Avenue Library2.3 mi
Cowles Library2.9 mi
Opperman Hall and Law Library2.9 mi

Museums (11 nearby)

Science Center of Iowa0.8 mi
World Food Prize Hall of Laureates0.9 mi
State of Iowa Historical Building1.0 mi
Iowa Hall of Pride1.2 mi
Halls of Law and Flame3.2 mi

Theaters and performance venues (20 nearby)

Simon Estes Amphitheater0.9 mi
Civic Center of Greater Des Moines0.9 mi
Kum & Go Theater1.1 mi
Temple Theater1.3 mi
Hoyt Sherman Place1.7 mi

Counts are within about 6 miles of the center of town.

Source: Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (openstreetmap.org/copyright), as mapped by volunteers; it can miss places or include closed ones.

Colleges, teams and notable people

Established in 1843.

Colleges and universities

Drake University
Grand View University
Drake University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Sports teams

Iowa Wolves NBA G League
Iowa Cubs Pacific Coast League
Des Moines Menace USL League Two
Des Moines Buccaneers United States Hockey League

Notable people born here

Stanley B. Prusiner (1942) · American neurologist and biochemist
Cloris Leachman (1926) · American actress and comedian (1926–2021)
Corey Taylor (1973) · American musician
Bill Bryson (1951) · American-British author (born 1951)
Brandon Routh (1979) · American actor
Joey Jordison (1975) · American musician (1975–2021)
India Summer (1975) · American pornographic actress
Jim Inhofe (1934) · United States Senator from Oklahoma (1934–2024)

Source: Wikidata (wikidata.org), the free knowledge base; people are listed by place of birth.

Schools in Des Moines

Public schools here are run by Des Moines Independent Comm School District, Saydel Comm School District, Southeast Polk Comm School District and others. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.

Public schools (63)

School	Grades	Students	Type	Distance
Capitol View Elementary SchoolDes Moines	Pre-K–5	533	Public	1.4 mi
Carver ElementaryDes Moines	Pre-K–5	436	Public	1.5 mi
Cornell Elementary SchoolDes Moines	Pre-K–4	555	Public	6.1 mi
Delaware ElementaryDes Moines	Pre-K–5	440	Public	6.3 mi
Garton ElementaryDes Moines	Pre-K–5	535	Public	3.6 mi
Greenwood Elementary SchoolDes Moines	Pre-K–5	293	Public	3.1 mi
Horizon Science Academy Des MoinesDes Moines	Pre-K–4	150	Charter	4.6 mi
Jackson Elementary SchoolDes Moines	Pre-K–5	490	Public	2.1 mi
Jefferson Elementary SchoolDes Moines	Pre-K–5	312	Public	2.9 mi
Jessie Franklin TaylorDes Moines	Pre-K	195	Public	2.8 mi
Madison Elementary SchoolDes Moines	Pre-K–5	285	Public	3.9 mi
McKee Elementary SchoolDes Moines	Pre-K	235	Public	4.4 mi
McKinley Elementary SchoolDes Moines	Pre-K–5	275	Public	0.3 mi
Mitchell Early Childhood CenterDes Moines	Pre-K	292	Public	3.0 mi
Moulton Elementary SchoolDes Moines	Pre-K–5	465	Public	2.3 mi
Walnut Street SchoolDes Moines	Pre-K–5	257	Public	1.2 mi
Woodlawn Early Childhood CenterDes Moines	Pre-K	216	Public	4.9 mi
Brubaker Elementary SchoolDes Moines	K–5	622	Public	5.0 mi
Cattell Elementary SchoolDes Moines	K–5	314	Public	3.3 mi
Downtown SchoolDes Moines	K–5	197	Public	1.8 mi
Edmunds Elementary SchoolDes Moines	K–5	259	Public	2.0 mi
Findley Elementary SchoolDes Moines	K–6	324	Public	3.2 mi
Hanawalt ElementaryDes Moines	K–5	312	Public	4.4 mi
Hillis Elementary SchoolDes Moines	K–5	279	Public	5.2 mi
Howe ElementaryDes Moines	K–5	297	Public	1.3 mi
Hubbell ElementaryDes Moines	K–5	362	Public	3.6 mi
King Elementary SchoolDes Moines	K–5	315	Public	2.6 mi
Lovejoy Elementary SchoolDes Moines	K–5	394	Public	2.9 mi
Monroe Elementary SchoolDes Moines	K–5	341	Public	3.7 mi
Moore Elementary SchoolDes Moines	K–5	285	Public	5.5 mi

And 33 more.

Private schools (12)

School	Grades	Students	Affiliation	Distance
Bergman AcademyDes Moines	Pre-K–8	281	Nonsectarian	3.7 mi
Des Moines Adventist SchoolDes Moines	Pre-K–8	45	Seventh-day Adventist	2.8 mi
Grand View Christian SchoolDes Moines	Pre-K–5	458	Christian (no specific denomination)	5.3 mi
Holy TrinityDes Moines	Pre-K–8	358	Roman Catholic	4.6 mi
Mt Olive Lutheran SchoolDes Moines	Pre-K–8	191	Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod	5.1 mi
St Anthony Elementary SchoolDes Moines	Pre-K–8	345	Roman Catholic	0.5 mi
St Joseph Elementary SchoolDes Moines	Pre-K–8	201	Roman Catholic	3.9 mi
St Theresa Catholic SchoolDes Moines	Pre-K–8	221	Roman Catholic	5.0 mi
Gospel Assembly Christian AcademyDes Moines	K–11	13	Christian (no specific denomination)	7.3 mi
J. W. Reed Christian AcademyDes Moines	K–12	74	Other religious	1.8 mi
Joshua Christian AcademyDes Moines	K–12	199	Christian (no specific denomination)	2.1 mi
One School Global Des Moines CampusDes Moines	3–12	23	Nonsectarian	4.3 mi

Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools; Private School Universe Survey (2023-2024) for private schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.

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Towns near Des Moines

All Iowa towns →

Pleasant Hill, IACity · 11,136 people5 miles away Windsor Heights, IACity · 5,143 people6 miles away Saylorville, IACommunity · 3,366 people6 miles away Norwalk, IACity · 14,183 people7 miles away Clive, IACity · 19,012 people7 miles away Urbandale, IACity · 46,595 people8 miles away Altoona, IACity · 21,495 people9 miles away Carlisle, IACity · 4,255 people9 miles away

More for Des Moines buyers

Polk County property taxes Polk County loan limits Closing costs in Iowa Hottest ZIP codes in Iowa Towns like Des Moines

Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.