Des Moines, IA · standard
ZIP Code 50309
Polk County, Iowa - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 5,431
- 744/sq mi High-density area
- $56,777
- Median income Below-median income area
- $292,500
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 61.5%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Des Moines pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with above-median home values, in a low-density, renter-heavy area.
- 24th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 35%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 744
- people per sq mi
- 11%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 50309 against every reporting US ZIP.
ZIP code 50309 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa, home to 5,431 residents across 7.3 square miles, a density of 744 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 50309 reports a modest median household income of $56,777 (26% below the average Iowa ZIP), while per-capita income is $57,597. The poverty rate is 18.6%, with unemployment at 4.4%; those measures add context to the income figure. Housing costs run above the statewide ZIP benchmark while renting is common: median home value is $292,500 (67% above the average Iowa ZIP), with only 10.6% owner-occupied homes and median rent of $1,223.
This is a highly-educated ZIP: 61.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 28.4, and the average commute is 13 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Polk County, so 50309 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 50309
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Des Moines, IA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 50309.
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
253 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
158 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
136 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
124 establishments
- Finance and insurance 93
Finance and insurance
93 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 50309, 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
5,431
Population
7.3
Area (sq mi)
744
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 50309?
28.4
Median Age
52.0%
Male
48.0%
Female
7.6%
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?
$56,777
Median Household Income
-26% vs state ZIP avg
$57,597
Per Capita Income
18.6%
Poverty Rate
4.4%
Unemployment Rate
13.3 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 50309 ranks among Iowa ZIPs
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)
$56,777 12th percentile higher than 12% 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
8,069housing units
8,069
Total Housing Units
7,154
Occupied Units
915
Vacant Units
1.37
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$292,500
Median Home Value
+67% vs state ZIP avg
$1,223
Median Rent
1992
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 1,186 business establishments in ZIP 50309, employing approximately 38,489 people with a combined annual payroll of $3,147,324,000.
1,186
Businesses
38,489
Employees
$3.1B
Annual Payroll
17
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 253 | 21.3% |
| Accommodation and food services | 158 | 13.3% |
| Health care and social assistance | 136 | 11.5% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 124 | 10.5% |
| Finance and insurance | 93 | 7.8% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 69 | 5.8% |
| Retail trade | 68 | 5.7% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 61 | 5.1% |
| Information | 51 | 4.3% |
| Wholesale trade | 36 | 3.0% |
| Construction | 33 | 2.8% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 29 | 2.5% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 24 | 2.0% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 24 | 2.0% |
| Manufacturing | 18 | 1.5% |
| Educational services | 6 | 0.5% |
| Utilities | 3 | 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 50309 vs 50319 →
ZIP 50309 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 50317
Des Moines (50317)
36,207 residents
- 50315
Des Moines (50315)
35,853 residents
- 50310
Des Moines (50310)
30,221 residents
- 50313
Des Moines (50313)
17,376 residents
- 50316
Des Moines (50316)
16,440 residents
- 50312
Des Moines (50312)
15,339 residents
- 50311
Des Moines (50311)
15,113 residents
- 50314 12,465
Des Moines (50314)
12,465 residents
- 50321 7,846
Des Moines (50321)
7,846 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 50309 ranks #0 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 50309 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 50312
Des Moines (50312)
$92,242 median income
- 50321
Des Moines (50321)
$80,351 median income
- 50310
Des Moines (50310)
$76,381 median income
- 50313
Des Moines (50313)
$68,361 median income
- 50317
Des Moines (50317)
$65,617 median income
- 50311
Des Moines (50311)
$61,957 median income
- 50315
Des Moines (50315)
$60,590 median income
- 50309
Des Moines (50309)
$56,777 median income
- 50316
Des Moines (50316)
$56,090 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 50309 ranks #8 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50319 | Des Moines, IA | 0 | 0.9 mi |
| 50314 | Des Moines, IA | 12,465 | 1.5 mi |
| 50315 | Des Moines, IA | 35,853 | 2.7 mi |
| 50316 | Des Moines, IA | 16,440 | 2.0 mi |
| 50312 | Des Moines, IA | 15,339 | 2.9 mi |
| 50311 | Des Moines, IA | 15,113 | 2.9 mi |
| 50313 | Des Moines, IA | 17,376 | 4.8 mi |
| 50310 | Des Moines, IA | 30,221 | 4.0 mi |
| 50321 | Des Moines, IA | 7,846 | 4.1 mi |
| 50317 | Des Moines, IA | 36,207 | 4.4 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 50309, 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 (5,431 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 50309 in?
ZIP code 50309 (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 50309?
ZIP code 50309 in Des Moines, IA has a population of 5,431 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 50309?
The median household income in ZIP 50309 is $56,777, which is 26% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 50309?
The median home value in ZIP 50309 is $292,500, which is 5% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 50309?
The largest racial group in ZIP 50309 is White at 66.6%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 8.9% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 50309?
ZIP code 50309 has 1,186 business establishments employing approximately 38,489 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 50309?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 50309 are: Professional, scientific, and technical services (253), Accommodation and food services (158), Health care and social assistance (136). There are 17 industry sectors represented in total.
What is the education level in ZIP code 50309?
In ZIP code 50309, 74.4% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 61.5% 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 50309?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 50309 is 13.3 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 50309?
In ZIP code 50309, approximately 10.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 89.4% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 50309?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 50309 is 18.6% 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 50309's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 50309 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Des Moines, IA ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.