Des Moines, IA · standard
ZIP Code 50315
Polk County, Iowa - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 35,853
- 1,382/sq mi High-density area
- $60,590
- Median income Below-median income area
- $173,200
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 20.1%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Des Moines pairs a below-median household income with below-median home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- 30th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 36th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 1,382
- people per sq mi
- 62%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 50315 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 50315 (Des Moines, IA) rose +6.8% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 214.7 in 2023 to 229.2 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 50315 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa, with 35,853 residents across 25.9 square miles, a density of 1,382 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 50315 reports a modest median household income of $60,590 (21% below the average Iowa ZIP), while per-capita income is $34,338. The poverty rate is 13.9%, with unemployment at 5.2%; those measures add context to the income figure. Median home value is $173,200 (1% below the average Iowa ZIP) and median rent is $1,001; 61.5% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 20.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 35.4, and the average commute is 22 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Polk County, so 50315 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 50315
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Des Moines, IA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 50315.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
70 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
60 establishments
- Construction
Construction
55 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
53 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
40 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 50315, 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
35,853
Population
25.9
Area (sq mi)
1,382
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 50315?
35.4
Median Age
48.2%
Male
51.8%
Female
10.7%
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?
$60,590
Median Household Income
-21% vs state ZIP avg
$34,338
Per Capita Income
13.9%
Poverty Rate
5.2%
Unemployment Rate
22.3 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 50315 ranks nationally
Des Moines, IA household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$60,590 30th percentile higher than 30% of 30,318 US ZIPs
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?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
16,421housing units
16,421
Total Housing Units
15,158
Occupied Units
1,263
Vacant Units
2.26
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$173,200
Median Home Value
-1% vs state ZIP avg
$1,001
Median Rent
1963
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
+6.8%
YoY Change (2024)
229
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+129%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 50315 have increased 6.8% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +129% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +1.4% | 159 |
| 2021 | +11.2% | 177 |
| 2022 | +12.5% | 199 |
| 2023 | +7.8% | 215 |
| 2024 | +6.8% | 229 |
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 419 business establishments in ZIP 50315, employing approximately 5,284 people with a combined annual payroll of $201,239,000.
419
Businesses
5,284
Employees
$201.2M
Annual Payroll
15
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 70 | 16.7% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 60 | 14.3% |
| Construction | 55 | 13.1% |
| Accommodation and food services | 53 | 12.7% |
| Health care and social assistance | 40 | 9.6% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 32 | 7.6% |
| Finance and insurance | 25 | 6.0% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 25 | 6.0% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 18 | 4.3% |
| Manufacturing | 10 | 2.4% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 8 | 1.9% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 6 | 1.4% |
| Educational services | 6 | 1.4% |
| Wholesale trade | 5 | 1.2% |
| Information | 5 | 1.2% |
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 50315 vs 50309 →
ZIP 50315 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
- 50320
Des Moines (50320)
20,027 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 50315 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 50315 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
- 50265
West Des Moines (50265)
$85,915 median income
- 50320
Des Moines (50320)
$85,105 median income
- 50321
Des Moines (50321)
$80,351 median income
- 50313
Des Moines (50313)
$68,361 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 50315 ranks #7 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50309 | Des Moines, IA | 5,431 | 2.7 mi |
| 50321 | Des Moines, IA | 7,846 | 2.7 mi |
| 50319 | Des Moines, IA | 0 | 3.3 mi |
| 50320 | Des Moines, IA | 20,027 | 2.9 mi |
| 50314 | Des Moines, IA | 12,465 | 4.2 mi |
| 50316 | Des Moines, IA | 16,440 | 4.5 mi |
| 50312 | Des Moines, IA | 15,339 | 3.7 mi |
| 50311 | Des Moines, IA | 15,113 | 4.7 mi |
| 50313 | Des Moines, IA | 17,376 | 7.5 mi |
| 50265 | West Des Moines, IA | 31,653 | 6.1 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 50315, 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 (35,853 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 50315 in?
ZIP code 50315 (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 50315?
ZIP code 50315 in Des Moines, IA has a population of 35,853 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 50315?
The median household income in ZIP 50315 is $60,590, which is 21% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 50315?
The median home value in ZIP 50315 is $173,200, which is 38% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 50315?
The largest racial group in ZIP 50315 is White at 69.4%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 19.3% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 50315?
ZIP code 50315 has 419 business establishments employing approximately 5,284 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 50315?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 50315 are: Retail trade (70), Other services (except public administration) (60), Construction (55). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 50315?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 50315 increased by 6.8% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 129%. 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 50315?
In ZIP code 50315, 56.1% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 20.1% 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 50315?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 50315 is 22.3 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 50315?
In ZIP code 50315, approximately 61.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 38.5% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 50315?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 50315 is 13.9% 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 50315's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 50315 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.