PlainZIP

West Des Moines, IA · standard

ZIP Code 50265

Polk County, Iowa — Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

31,653
709/sq mi
$85,915
Median income
$281,800
Median home value
51.5%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

West Des Moines pairs an above-median household income with above-median home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.

Top 31%
household income, US ZIPs
Top 36%
home value, US ZIPs
709
people per sq mi
66%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 50265 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 50265 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 44.7 square miles in West Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa. The area is home to 31,653 residents, producing a population density of 709 people per square mile, and falls within the Chicago time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 50265 against Iowa and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 50265 sits at $85,915 (12% above the Iowa average), while per-capita income is $56,470. The poverty rate stands at 7.9% and the unemployment rate at 2.3%. On housing, the median home value is $281,800 (60% above the state average) with median rent at $1,106 per month, and 66.4% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 50265 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 51.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 37.4, and the average commute is 18 minutes. We also surface 10 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Polk County, so you can benchmark 50265 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →

Top industries in ZIP 50265

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 50265.

establishments

What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, FHFA HPI for ZIP 50265, West Des Moines, IA · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; HUD FMR + FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.

Quick Facts

31,653

Population

44.7

Area (sq mi)

709

People / sq mi

Chicago

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 50265?

37.4

Median Age

48.5%

Male

51.5%

Female

9.7%

Foreign-Born

White 78.3%
African American 4.8%
Asian 5.3%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 8.2%
Hispanic or Latino 8.2%

Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How much do residents earn?

$85,915

Median Household Income

+12% vs state

$56,470

Per Capita Income

7.9%

Poverty Rate

2.3%

Unemployment Rate

17.6 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 50265 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income — the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$85,915 Top 31% higher than 69% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Below this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What is the education profile here?

High School Graduate or Higher 69.1%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 51.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

15,433

Total Housing Units

14,769

Occupied Units

664

Vacant Units

2.25

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 66.4%
Renter 33.6%

$281,800

Median Home Value

+60% vs state

$1,106

Median Rent

1984

Median Year Built

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How have home values changed over time?

FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals

+6.6%

YoY Change (2024)

223

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+123%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 50265 have increased 6.6% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +123% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +2.6% 161
2021 +7.4% 173
2022 +15.6% 200
2023 +4.6% 209
2024 +6.6% 223

Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.

What businesses operate in this ZIP?

Census Bureau data shows 870 business establishments in ZIP 50265, employing approximately 12,795 people with a combined annual payroll of $722,598,000.

870

Businesses

12,795

Employees

$722.6M

Annual Payroll

16

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Professional, scientific, and technical services 117 13.4%
Health care and social assistance 110 12.6%
Retail trade 95 10.9%
Construction 86 9.9%
Other services (except public administration) 82 9.4%
Accommodation and food services 73 8.4%
Finance and insurance 70 8.1%
Real estate and rental and leasing 60 6.9%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 52 6.0%
Wholesale trade 34 3.9%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 26 3.0%
Manufacturing 25 2.9%
Educational services 14 1.6%
Transportation and warehousing 9 1.0%
Information 7 0.8%
Management of companies and enterprises 5 0.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.

Nearby ZIP Codes

Want a side-by-side? Compare 50265 vs 50324 →

ZIP 50265 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 50265 ranks #2 by population — useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 50265 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 50265 ranks #7 of 9 neighboring ZIPs — local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
50324 Windsor Heights, IA 4,903 3.6 mi
50266 West Des Moines, IA 23,625 3.3 mi
50322 Urbandale, IA 31,530 5.4 mi
50321 Des Moines, IA 7,846 3.5 mi
50312 Des Moines, IA 15,339 3.6 mi
50311 Des Moines, IA 15,113 4.6 mi
50325 Clive, IA 15,448 5.2 mi
50061 Cumming, IA 1,701 5.5 mi
50315 Des Moines, IA 35,853 6.1 mi
50310 Des Moines, IA 30,221 6.0 mi

More ZIP Codes in Polk County

50317 standard
Des Moines, IA
Pop: 36,207
50315 standard
Des Moines, IA
Pop: 35,853
50322 standard
Urbandale, IA
Pop: 31,530
50310 standard
Des Moines, IA
Pop: 30,221
50023 standard
Ankeny, IA
Pop: 27,986
50266 standard
West Des Moines, IA
Pop: 23,625

Related Areas

Polk County West Des Moines, IA Iowa

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 50265 in? ▼
ZIP code 50265 (West Des Moines) is located in Polk County, Iowa. Polk County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/polk-ia.
What is the population of ZIP code 50265? ▼
ZIP code 50265 in West Des Moines, IA has a population of 31,653 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 50265? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 50265 is $85,915, which is 13% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 50265? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 50265 is $281,800, which is 1% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 50265? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 50265 is White at 78.3%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 8.2% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 50265? ▼
ZIP code 50265 has 870 business establishments employing approximately 12,795 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 50265? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 50265 are: Professional, scientific, and technical services (117), Health care and social assistance (110), Retail trade (95). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 50265? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 50265 increased by 6.6% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 123%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 50265? ▼
In ZIP code 50265, 69.1% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 51.5% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 50265? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 50265 is 17.6 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 50265? ▼
In ZIP code 50265, approximately 66.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 33.6% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 50265? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 50265 is 7.9% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

ZIP Code Research Guides

Reading Census Demographics
How to interpret population, income, and education data from the Census Bureau.
Understanding ZIP Code Data
What ZIP codes are, how ZCTAs differ, and what the data reveals.
Best ZIP Codes for Families
Key factors to evaluate when choosing a family-friendly neighborhood.
ZIP Codes for Relocation
Data-driven tips for evaluating ZIP codes before a move.

Official Data Resources for West Des Moines, IA

Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.

U.S. Census Bureau
Official demographic, economic, and housing data from the American Community Survey.
HUD Fair Market Rents
Department of Housing and Urban Development rental cost estimates by metropolitan area.
FBI Uniform Crime Reports
Official crime statistics compiled from law enforcement agencies nationwide.
FHFA House Price Index
Federal Housing Finance Agency home value trends based on repeat sales and appraisals.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.