West Des Moines, IA · standard
ZIP Code 50266
Polk County, Iowa - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 23,625
- 551/sq mi High-density area
- $87,025
- Median income Above-median income area
- $345,600
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 58.2%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
West Des Moines pairs an above-median household income with above-median home values, in a low-density, mixed-tenure area.
- Top 30%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 27%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 551
- people per sq mi
- 50%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 50266 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 50266 (West Des Moines, IA) rose +3.0% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 191.7 in 2023 to 197.5 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 50266 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in West Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa, with 23,625 residents across 42.9 square miles, a density of 551 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 50266 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $87,025 (14% above the average Iowa ZIP), while per-capita income is $58,079. The poverty rate is 8.9%, with unemployment at 2.4%; those measures add context to the income figure. Housing costs run above the statewide ZIP benchmark while renting is common: median home value is $345,600 (97% above the average Iowa ZIP), with only 49.8% owner-occupied homes and median rent of $1,331.
This is a highly-educated ZIP: 58.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 34.9, and the average commute is 19 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Polk County, so 50266 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 50266
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in West Des Moines, IA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 50266.
- Finance and insurance
Finance and insurance
319 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
313 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
266 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
265 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
172 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, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 50266, West Des Moines, IA · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
23,625
Population
42.9
Area (sq mi)
551
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 50266?
34.9
Median Age
49.8%
Male
50.2%
Female
12.0%
Foreign-Born
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?
$87,025
Median Household Income
+14% vs state ZIP avg
$58,079
Per Capita Income
8.9%
Poverty Rate
2.4%
Unemployment Rate
18.8 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 50266 ranks among Iowa ZIPs
West Des Moines, IA household income vs. every Iowa ZIP code
Median household income among 911 reporting Iowa ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$87,025 Top 24% higher than 76% of 911 Iowa ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Iowa 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?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
18,568housing units
18,568
Total Housing Units
17,459
Occupied Units
1,109
Vacant Units
2.14
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$345,600
Median Home Value
+97% vs state ZIP avg
$1,331
Median Rent
2002
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
+3.0%
YoY Change (2024)
197
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+97%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 50266 have increased 3.0% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +97% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +0.6% | 146 |
| 2021 | +6.8% | 156 |
| 2022 | +13.5% | 177 |
| 2023 | +8.3% | 192 |
| 2024 | +3.0% | 197 |
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 1,920 business establishments in ZIP 50266, employing approximately 53,512 people with a combined annual payroll of $4,332,543,000.
1,920
Businesses
53,512
Employees
$4.3B
Annual Payroll
17
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Finance and insurance | 319 | 16.6% |
| Health care and social assistance | 313 | 16.3% |
| Retail trade | 266 | 13.8% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 265 | 13.8% |
| Accommodation and food services | 172 | 9.0% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 130 | 6.8% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 115 | 6.0% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 99 | 5.2% |
| Construction | 49 | 2.5% |
| Information | 45 | 2.3% |
| Wholesale trade | 38 | 2.0% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 26 | 1.4% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 25 | 1.3% |
| Educational services | 24 | 1.3% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 19 | 1.0% |
| Utilities | 7 | 0.4% |
| Manufacturing | 6 | 0.3% |
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 50266 vs 50325 →
ZIP 50266 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 50265
West Des Moines (50265)
31,653 residents
- 50322
Urbandale (50322)
31,530 residents
- 50266
West Des Moines (50266)
23,625 residents
- 50263
Waukee (50263)
16,069 residents
- 50325
Clive (50325)
15,448 residents
- 50312
Des Moines (50312)
15,339 residents
- 50323 10,201
Urbandale (50323)
10,201 residents
- 50111 9,407
Grimes (50111)
9,407 residents
- 50324 4,903
Windsor Heights (50324)
4,903 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 50266 ranks #3 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 50266 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 50323
Urbandale (50323)
$175,944 median income
- 50325
Clive (50325)
$132,121 median income
- 50061
Cumming (50061)
$130,714 median income
- 50111
Grimes (50111)
$120,769 median income
- 50263
Waukee (50263)
$102,762 median income
- 50312
Des Moines (50312)
$92,242 median income
- 50322
Urbandale (50322)
$92,085 median income
- 50324
Windsor Heights (50324)
$91,707 median income
- 50266
West Des Moines (50266)
$87,025 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 50266 ranks #9 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50325 | Clive, IA | 15,448 | 3.1 mi |
| 50265 | West Des Moines, IA | 31,653 | 3.3 mi |
| 50323 | Urbandale, IA | 10,201 | 4.6 mi |
| 50061 | Cumming, IA | 1,701 | 5.9 mi |
| 50263 | Waukee, IA | 16,069 | 4.2 mi |
| 50324 | Windsor Heights, IA | 4,903 | 5.1 mi |
| 50322 | Urbandale, IA | 31,530 | 5.5 mi |
| 50111 | Grimes, IA | 9,407 | 8.5 mi |
| 50312 | Des Moines, IA | 15,339 | 6.4 mi |
| 50038 | Booneville, IA | 205 | 6.2 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 50266, both outside IA so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (23,625 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Polk County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 50266 in?
ZIP code 50266 (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 50266?
ZIP code 50266 in West Des Moines, IA has a population of 23,625 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 50266?
The median household income in ZIP 50266 is $87,025, which is 14% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 50266?
The median home value in ZIP 50266 is $345,600, which is 24% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 50266?
The largest racial group in ZIP 50266 is White at 80.4%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 4.9% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 50266?
ZIP code 50266 has 1,920 business establishments employing approximately 53,512 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 50266?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 50266 are: Finance and insurance (319), Health care and social assistance (313), Retail trade (266). There are 17 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 50266?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 50266 increased by 3.0% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 97%. 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 50266?
In ZIP code 50266, 71.6% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 58.2% 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 50266?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 50266 is 18.8 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 50266?
In ZIP code 50266, approximately 49.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 50.2% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 50266?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 50266 is 8.9% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 50266's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 50266 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where West Des Moines, IA ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.