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Iowa city profile

What Is It Like to Live in West Des Moines?

What it costs to live in West Des Moines, and how it compares with other Iowa cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

45

20th best value in Iowa

How much you get for what you pay, versus other Iowa cities.

Overall livability

50

15th overall in Iowa

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

West Des Moines is home to about 67,640 people. A typical home runs $239,200 and a household earns around $76,600, a price-to-income ratio of 3.1. Among Iowa's largest cities, it ranks 20th for value and 15th overall.

West Des Moines at a glance

Median home price

$239,200

26th in IA of 30

Median rent

$1,062/mo

Median household income

$76,600

Home price to income

3.1x

Unemployment

2.7%

8th in IA of 30

School rating

7/10

9th in IA of 30

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in IA of 30

Walk score

7/100

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‹ See all top Iowa cities ranked  ยท  Iowa state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within Iowa only. Updated 2026.