Des Moines, IA · standard
ZIP Code 50320
Polk County, Iowa - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 20,027
- 414/sq mi High-density area
- $85,105
- Median income Above-median income area
- $216,900
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 24.8%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Des Moines pairs an above-median household income with below-median home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 32%
- household income, US ZIPs
- 48th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 414
- people per sq mi
- 74%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 50320 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 50320 (Des Moines, IA) rose +2.2% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 198.9 in 2023 to 203.3 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 50320 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa, with 20,027 residents across 48.4 square miles, a density of 414 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 50320 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $85,105 (11% above the average Iowa ZIP), while per-capita income is $36,496. The poverty rate is 10.3%, with unemployment at 7.2%; those measures add context to the income figure. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $216,900 (24% above the average Iowa ZIP), while 73.5% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $1,166.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 24.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 34.3, 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 50320 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 50320
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Des Moines, IA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 50320.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
56 establishments
- Construction
Construction
38 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
34 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
32 establishments
- Real estate and rental and leasing
Real estate and rental and leasing
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 50320, 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
20,027
Population
48.4
Area (sq mi)
414
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 50320?
34.3
Median Age
49.3%
Male
50.7%
Female
16.5%
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?
$85,105
Median Household Income
+11% vs state ZIP avg
$36,496
Per Capita Income
10.3%
Poverty Rate
7.2%
Unemployment Rate
22.0 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 50320 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)
$85,105 Top 28% higher than 72% 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
9,369housing units
9,369
Total Housing Units
8,787
Occupied Units
582
Vacant Units
2.81
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$216,900
Median Home Value
+24% vs state ZIP avg
$1,166
Median Rent
1995
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
+2.2%
YoY Change (2024)
203
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+103%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 50320 have increased 2.2% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +103% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +1.9% | 146 |
| 2021 | +10.8% | 162 |
| 2022 | +10.6% | 179 |
| 2023 | +10.9% | 199 |
| 2024 | +2.2% | 203 |
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 299 business establishments in ZIP 50320, employing approximately 3,534 people with a combined annual payroll of $125,201,000.
299
Businesses
3,534
Employees
$125.2M
Annual Payroll
15
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 56 | 18.7% |
| Construction | 38 | 12.7% |
| Accommodation and food services | 34 | 11.4% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 32 | 10.7% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 26 | 8.7% |
| Health care and social assistance | 23 | 7.7% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 19 | 6.3% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 17 | 5.7% |
| Finance and insurance | 13 | 4.3% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 11 | 3.7% |
| Information | 7 | 2.3% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 7 | 2.3% |
| Manufacturing | 5 | 1.7% |
| Wholesale trade | 5 | 1.7% |
| Educational services | 3 | 1.0% |
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 50320 vs 50315 →
ZIP 50320 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
- 50320
Des Moines (50320)
20,027 residents
- 50316
Des Moines (50316)
16,440 residents
- 50312
Des Moines (50312)
15,339 residents
- 50314 12,465
Des Moines (50314)
12,465 residents
- 50327 10,467
Pleasant Hill (50327)
10,467 residents
- 50321 7,846
Des Moines (50321)
7,846 residents
- 50047 5,559
Carlisle (50047)
5,559 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 50320 ranks #3 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 50320 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 50047
Carlisle (50047)
$106,389 median income
- 50327
Pleasant Hill (50327)
$98,333 median income
- 50312
Des Moines (50312)
$92,242 median income
- 50320
Des Moines (50320)
$85,105 median income
- 50321
Des Moines (50321)
$80,351 median income
- 50317
Des Moines (50317)
$65,617 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 50320 ranks #4 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50315 | Des Moines, IA | 35,853 | 2.9 mi |
| 50319 | Des Moines, IA | 0 | 4.7 mi |
| 50309 | Des Moines, IA | 5,431 | 4.7 mi |
| 50316 | Des Moines, IA | 16,440 | 5.7 mi |
| 50317 | Des Moines, IA | 36,207 | 6.2 mi |
| 50321 | Des Moines, IA | 7,846 | 5.3 mi |
| 50314 | Des Moines, IA | 12,465 | 6.2 mi |
| 50327 | Pleasant Hill, IA | 10,467 | 5.7 mi |
| 50047 | Carlisle, IA | 5,559 | 6.5 mi |
| 50312 | Des Moines, IA | 15,339 | 6.5 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 50320, 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 (20,027 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 50320 in?
ZIP code 50320 (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 50320?
ZIP code 50320 in Des Moines, IA has a population of 20,027 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 50320?
The median household income in ZIP 50320 is $85,105, which is 12% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 50320?
The median home value in ZIP 50320 is $216,900, which is 22% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 50320?
The largest racial group in ZIP 50320 is White at 61.3%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 20.7% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 50320?
ZIP code 50320 has 299 business establishments employing approximately 3,534 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 50320?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 50320 are: Retail trade (56), Construction (38), Accommodation and food services (34). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 50320?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 50320 increased by 2.2% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 103%. 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 50320?
In ZIP code 50320, 53.6% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 24.8% 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 50320?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 50320 is 22.0 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 50320?
In ZIP code 50320, approximately 73.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 26.5% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 50320?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 50320 is 10.3% 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 50320's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 50320 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.