Des Moines, IA

Census ZIP code profile for Des Moines, IA - 12 ZIPs, total population 212,318. Median income, home value, education, commute, and demographics from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2023 5-Year Estimates.

U.S. Census Bureau, SimpleMaps US ZIP Code Database, delivery-area ZIP coverage

ACS city ledger plate

Sheet DES-MOINES-IA · Des Moines, IA 12 ZIPs · 212,318 pop · #14244/25278 · Polk County

INC-MID · RANK-MID · BELOW-PEER · BOOK-MID · OWN-LOW · POP-MID · SPREAD-WIDE · HOME-MID

  • INC-MID $67,584
  • RANK-MID #14244/25278
  • BELOW-PEER under West Des Moines
  • BOOK-MID 12 ZIPs
  • OWN-LOW 59% owners
  • POP-MID 212,318
  • SPREAD-WIDE 50314→50312
  • HOME-MID $218,100

Nearest income peer: West Des Moines, IA (+ $18,886 income $)

Instrument codes from this city’s ACS household income, national rank, county-peer gap, ZIP book, owner tenure, population scale, intra-city income spread, and home-value band, not a moving recommendation.

Income neighbourhood around Des Moines

Lowest/highest poles plus county-sharing cities nearest Des Moines on average ZIP median household income. Full ladder: /cities.

median HH income

What this shows County-sharing peers only, not the full US city board. Open a near peer when the gap is small; open the poles when the mosaic is wide.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2026-08-25

National city placement

According to ACS 5-Year Estimates, Des Moines, IA sits among US cities with a below-median household income, on a mid-size population base, across a compact ZIP cluster.

44th pct
household income vs 25,278 US cities
212,318
city population (Census)
12
USPS ZIP codes covered
$67,584
avg ZIP median income

Income percentile ranks this city's average ZIP median household income against 25,278 US cities with ACS income on at least one ZIP. Scale and ZIP-spread words come from Census population and USPS ZIP coverage.

A below-median income city on a compact ZIP cluster (12 codes). Income averages $67,584, rent $1,075 , commute about 19 minutes. Sibling ZIPs here are close enough that a two-ZIP compare often answers which side of town.

Every one of the 12 cities sharing Polk County reports a higher average ZIP median income than Des Moines, West Des Moines, Ankeny and Urbandale among them. That gap is the county's income spread, not a measure of the housing or commute picture below. Polk City marks the far end of that range at $153,011, 126% above Des Moines.

Within-city ZIP comparison

Where the ZIP codes inside Des Moines differ

Des Moines's city average masks two linked splits. Median household income runs from $39,950 in ZIP 50314 to $92,242 in ZIP 50312, while home values span $147,900 in 50314 to $320,500 in 50321. Compare the endpoint ZIPs before treating the city-level number as a neighborhood-level answer.

Income high-to-low ratio
2.3×

50314 to 50312

Home-value high-to-low ratio
2.2×

50314 to 50321

Poverty-rate spread
33.7 points

50312 to 50314

Derived from the published ACS 2023 ZIP-level records shown on this site. A high-to-low ratio compares the highest and lowest available ZIP values; it is not a score or forecast.

Population concentration

Des Moines residents fan out across many ZIPs

Population is spread across 12 codes in Des Moines. The densest, 50317, still represents only about 17% of the 212,318 residents, so no single ZIP stands in for the city.

Census ZBP business roll-up

Dense employer mosaic across Des Moines

Citywide ZBP: 5,414 establishments, 126,677 employees , annual payroll $8,167,697k (~25 establishments per 1,000 residents) across 12 of 12 ZIPs. Peak business ZIP 50309 (1,186 units) ; leading NAICS Other services (except public administration) (638) · also Retail trade · Professional, scientific, and technical services .

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ZIP Codes in Des Moines, IA

These ZIP codes sit in Polk County, which covers 31 ZIP codes in all; 12 of them fall in Des Moines. See the Polk County roll-up →

Every one of the 12 cities sharing Polk County reports a higher average ZIP median income than Des Moines, West Des Moines, Ankeny and Urbandale among them. That gap is the county's income spread, not a measure of the housing or commute picture below. Polk City marks the far end of that range at $153,011, 126% above Des Moines.

Side-by-side: Compare 50317 vs 50315 →

ZIP Code Population Median income Establishments Density
50317 36,207 $65,617 533 627
50315 35,853 $60,590 419 1,382
50310 30,221 $76,381 570 1,451
50320 20,027 $85,105 299 414
50313 17,376 $68,361 758 379
50316 16,440 $56,090 280 1,785
50312 15,339 $92,242 534 1,044
50311 15,113 $61,957 235 2,323
50314 12,465 $39,950 254 1,939
50321 7,846 $80,351 329 258
50309 5,431 $56,777 1,186 744
50319 0 n/a 17 n/a

Des Moines roll-ups here are for informational purposes only and do not constitute financial or relocation advice. ACS and Census ZBP figures are estimates; confirm the current table against Census before a money or move decision involving Des Moines, .