Des Moines, IA · standard
ZIP Code 50311
Polk County, Iowa - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 15,113
- 2,323/sq mi High-density area
- $61,957
- Median income Below-median income area
- $226,500
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 43.5%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Des Moines pairs a below-median household income with above-median home values, in a suburban-density, mixed-tenure area.
- 33rd pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 49%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 2,323
- people per sq mi
- 48%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 50311 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 50311 (Des Moines, IA) rose +9.6% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 220.2 in 2023 to 241.3 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 50311 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa, home to 15,113 residents across 6.5 square miles, a density of 2,323 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 50311 reports a modest median household income of $61,957 (19% below the average Iowa ZIP), while per-capita income is $35,633. The poverty rate is 18.8%, with unemployment at 5.7%; those measures add context to the income figure. Housing costs run above the statewide ZIP benchmark while renting is common: median home value is $226,500 (29% above the average Iowa ZIP), with only 48.4% owner-occupied homes and median rent of $1,029.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 43.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 30.8, and the average commute is 18 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Polk County, so 50311 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 50311
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Des Moines, IA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 50311.
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
38 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
35 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
33 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
32 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
26 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 50311, 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
15,113
Population
6.5
Area (sq mi)
2,323
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 50311?
30.8
Median Age
49.9%
Male
50.1%
Female
9.6%
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?
$61,957
Median Household Income
-19% vs state ZIP avg
$35,633
Per Capita Income
18.8%
Poverty Rate
5.7%
Unemployment Rate
17.5 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 50311 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)
$61,957 22nd percentile higher than 22% 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
6,867housing units
6,867
Total Housing Units
6,366
Occupied Units
501
Vacant Units
1.99
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$226,500
Median Home Value
+29% vs state ZIP avg
$1,029
Median Rent
1938
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
+9.6%
YoY Change (2024)
241
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+141%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 50311 have increased 9.6% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +141% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +2.4% | 174 |
| 2021 | +9.5% | 191 |
| 2022 | +11.1% | 212 |
| 2023 | +4.0% | 220 |
| 2024 | +9.6% | 241 |
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 235 business establishments in ZIP 50311, employing approximately 5,349 people with a combined annual payroll of $170,248,000.
235
Businesses
5,349
Employees
$170.2M
Annual Payroll
12
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and food services | 38 | 16.2% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 35 | 14.9% |
| Health care and social assistance | 33 | 14.0% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 32 | 13.6% |
| Retail trade | 26 | 11.1% |
| Construction | 12 | 5.1% |
| Information | 12 | 5.1% |
| Finance and insurance | 11 | 4.7% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 10 | 4.3% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 10 | 4.3% |
| Educational services | 7 | 3.0% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 5 | 2.1% |
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 50311 vs 50312 →
ZIP 50311 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 50322
Urbandale (50322)
31,530 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
- 50309 5,431
Des Moines (50309)
5,431 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 50311 ranks #6 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 50311 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
- 50322
Urbandale (50322)
$92,085 median income
- 50324
Windsor Heights (50324)
$91,707 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
- 50311
Des Moines (50311)
$61,957 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 50311 ranks #7 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50312 | Des Moines, IA | 15,339 | 1.4 mi |
| 50310 | Des Moines, IA | 30,221 | 1.9 mi |
| 50324 | Windsor Heights, IA | 4,903 | 2.1 mi |
| 50314 | Des Moines, IA | 12,465 | 2.2 mi |
| 50321 | Des Moines, IA | 7,846 | 4.3 mi |
| 50309 | Des Moines, IA | 5,431 | 2.9 mi |
| 50319 | Des Moines, IA | 0 | 3.6 mi |
| 50316 | Des Moines, IA | 16,440 | 3.9 mi |
| 50322 | Urbandale, IA | 31,530 | 4.0 mi |
| 50313 | Des Moines, IA | 17,376 | 4.6 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 50311, 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 (15,113 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 50311 in?
ZIP code 50311 (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 50311?
ZIP code 50311 in Des Moines, IA has a population of 15,113 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 50311?
The median household income in ZIP 50311 is $61,957, which is 19% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 50311?
The median home value in ZIP 50311 is $226,500, which is 19% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 50311?
The largest racial group in ZIP 50311 is White at 72.6%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 7.6% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 50311?
ZIP code 50311 has 235 business establishments employing approximately 5,349 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 50311?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 50311 are: Accommodation and food services (38), Other services (except public administration) (35), Health care and social assistance (33). There are 12 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 50311?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 50311 increased by 9.6% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 141%. 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 50311?
In ZIP code 50311, 64.4% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 43.5% 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 50311?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 50311 is 17.5 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 50311?
In ZIP code 50311, approximately 48.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 51.6% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 50311?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 50311 is 18.8% 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 50311's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 50311 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.