Des Moines, IA · standard
ZIP Code 50312
Polk County, Iowa - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 15,339
- 1,044/sq mi High-density area
- $92,242
- Median income Above-median income area
- $291,900
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 61.2%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Des Moines pairs an upper-quartile household income with above-median home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 25%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 35%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 1,044
- people per sq mi
- 64%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 50312 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 50312 (Des Moines, IA) rose +6.9% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 223.2 in 2023 to 238.6 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 50312 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa, home to 15,339 residents across 14.7 square miles, a density of 1,044 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 50312 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $92,242 (20% above the average Iowa ZIP), while per-capita income is $67,131. Both reported hardship measures are comparatively low in absolute terms: poverty is 6.8% and unemployment is 2.8%. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $291,900 (66% above the average Iowa ZIP), while 63.7% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $1,074.
This is a highly-educated ZIP: 61.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 40.3, and the average commute is 16 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Polk County, so 50312 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 50312
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Des Moines, IA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 50312.
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
115 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
68 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
60 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
54 establishments
- Real estate and rental and leasing 44
Real estate and rental and leasing
44 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 50312, 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
15,339
Population
14.7
Area (sq mi)
1,044
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 50312?
40.3
Median Age
51.1%
Male
48.9%
Female
7.2%
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?
$92,242
Median Household Income
+20% vs state ZIP avg
$67,131
Per Capita Income
6.8%
Poverty Rate
2.8%
Unemployment Rate
15.6 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 50312 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)
$92,242 Top 18% higher than 82% 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
8,203housing units
8,203
Total Housing Units
7,584
Occupied Units
619
Vacant Units
2.04
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$291,900
Median Home Value
+66% vs state ZIP avg
$1,074
Median Rent
1945
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
+6.9%
YoY Change (2024)
239
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+139%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 50312 have increased 6.9% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +139% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +1.6% | 177 |
| 2021 | +8.7% | 192 |
| 2022 | +12.8% | 217 |
| 2023 | +3.0% | 223 |
| 2024 | +6.9% | 239 |
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 534 business establishments in ZIP 50312, employing approximately 5,190 people with a combined annual payroll of $234,757,000.
534
Businesses
5,190
Employees
$234.8M
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 115 | 21.5% |
| Health care and social assistance | 68 | 12.7% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 60 | 11.2% |
| Accommodation and food services | 54 | 10.1% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 44 | 8.2% |
| Retail trade | 40 | 7.5% |
| Finance and insurance | 39 | 7.3% |
| Construction | 30 | 5.6% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 22 | 4.1% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 14 | 2.6% |
| Information | 13 | 2.4% |
| Educational services | 10 | 1.9% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 8 | 1.5% |
| Manufacturing | 6 | 1.1% |
| Wholesale trade | 4 | 0.8% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 3 | 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 50312 vs 50311 →
ZIP 50312 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 50315
Des Moines (50315)
35,853 residents
- 50265
West Des Moines (50265)
31,653 residents
- 50310
Des Moines (50310)
30,221 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 50312 ranks #5 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 50312 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
- 50324
Windsor Heights (50324)
$91,707 median income
- 50265
West Des Moines (50265)
$85,915 median income
- 50321
Des Moines (50321)
$80,351 median income
- 50310
Des Moines (50310)
$76,381 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 50312 ranks the highest of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50311 | Des Moines, IA | 15,113 | 1.4 mi |
| 50321 | Des Moines, IA | 7,846 | 2.9 mi |
| 50310 | Des Moines, IA | 30,221 | 3.2 mi |
| 50309 | Des Moines, IA | 5,431 | 2.9 mi |
| 50324 | Windsor Heights, IA | 4,903 | 2.5 mi |
| 50314 | Des Moines, IA | 12,465 | 2.9 mi |
| 50319 | Des Moines, IA | 0 | 3.8 mi |
| 50265 | West Des Moines, IA | 31,653 | 3.6 mi |
| 50315 | Des Moines, IA | 35,853 | 3.7 mi |
| 50316 | Des Moines, IA | 16,440 | 4.5 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 50312, 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 (15,339 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 50312 in?
ZIP code 50312 (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 50312?
ZIP code 50312 in Des Moines, IA has a population of 15,339 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 50312?
The median household income in ZIP 50312 is $92,242, which is 21% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 50312?
The median home value in ZIP 50312 is $291,900, which is 5% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 50312?
The largest racial group in ZIP 50312 is White at 82.3%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 5.4% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 50312?
ZIP code 50312 has 534 business establishments employing approximately 5,190 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 50312?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 50312 are: Professional, scientific, and technical services (115), Health care and social assistance (68), Other services (except public administration) (60). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 50312?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 50312 increased by 6.9% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 139%. 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 50312?
In ZIP code 50312, 75.9% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 61.2% 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 50312?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 50312 is 15.6 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 50312?
In ZIP code 50312, approximately 63.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 36.3% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 50312?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 50312 is 6.8% 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 50312's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 50312 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
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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.