Des Moines, IA · standard
ZIP Code 50321
Polk County, Iowa - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 7,846
- 258/sq mi High-density area
- $80,351
- Median income Near-median income area
- $320,500
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 42.4%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Des Moines pairs an above-median household income with above-median home values, in a low-density, mixed-tenure area.
- Top 38%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 31%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 258
- people per sq mi
- 60%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 50321 against every reporting US ZIP.
ZIP code 50321 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa, home to 7,846 residents across 30.4 square miles, a density of 258 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 50321 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $80,351 (5% above the average Iowa ZIP), while per-capita income is $56,160. The poverty rate is 10.4%, with unemployment at 6.6%; those measures add context to the income figure. Median home value is $320,500 (83% above the average Iowa ZIP) and median rent is $1,128; 59.8% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 42.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 36.8, and the average commute is 21 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Polk County, so 50321 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 50321
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Des Moines, IA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 50321.
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
36 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
31 establishments
- Wholesale trade
Wholesale trade
30 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
28 establishments
- Real estate and rental and leasing
Real estate and rental and leasing
28 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 50321, 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
7,846
Population
30.4
Area (sq mi)
258
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 50321?
36.8
Median Age
46.0%
Male
54.0%
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?
$80,351
Median Household Income
+5% vs state ZIP avg
$56,160
Per Capita Income
10.4%
Poverty Rate
6.6%
Unemployment Rate
20.5 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 50321 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)
$80,351 Top 36% higher than 64% 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
3,768housing units
3,768
Total Housing Units
3,534
Occupied Units
234
Vacant Units
2.23
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$320,500
Median Home Value
+83% vs state ZIP avg
$1,128
Median Rent
1982
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
-0.3%
YoY Change (2024)
199
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+99%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 50321 have decreased 0.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +99% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +0.2% | 151 |
| 2021 | +7.9% | 163 |
| 2022 | +7.8% | 176 |
| 2023 | +13.7% | 200 |
| 2024 | -0.3% | 199 |
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 329 business establishments in ZIP 50321, employing approximately 17,023 people with a combined annual payroll of $1,000,429,000.
329
Businesses
17,023
Employees
$1.0B
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 36 | 10.9% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 31 | 9.4% |
| Wholesale trade | 30 | 9.1% |
| Retail trade | 28 | 8.5% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 28 | 8.5% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 26 | 7.9% |
| Accommodation and food services | 26 | 7.9% |
| Health care and social assistance | 23 | 7.0% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 21 | 6.4% |
| Construction | 20 | 6.1% |
| Finance and insurance | 19 | 5.8% |
| Manufacturing | 18 | 5.5% |
| Information | 8 | 2.4% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 6 | 1.8% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 4 | 1.2% |
| Educational services | 4 | 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 50321 vs 50312 →
ZIP 50321 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
- 50320
Des Moines (50320)
20,027 residents
- 50312
Des Moines (50312)
15,339 residents
- 50311
Des Moines (50311)
15,113 residents
- 50314 12,465
Des Moines (50314)
12,465 residents
- 50211 11,192
Norwalk (50211)
11,192 residents
- 50321 7,846
Des Moines (50321)
7,846 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 50321 ranks #9 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 50321 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 50211
Norwalk (50211)
$103,712 median income
- 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
- 50320
Des Moines (50320)
$85,105 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
What this shows By household income, ZIP 50321 ranks #6 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 | 2.9 mi |
| 50315 | Des Moines, IA | 35,853 | 2.7 mi |
| 50311 | Des Moines, IA | 15,113 | 4.3 mi |
| 50265 | West Des Moines, IA | 31,653 | 3.5 mi |
| 50310 | Des Moines, IA | 30,221 | 6.1 mi |
| 50309 | Des Moines, IA | 5,431 | 4.1 mi |
| 50211 | Norwalk, IA | 11,192 | 5.9 mi |
| 50324 | Windsor Heights, IA | 4,903 | 4.9 mi |
| 50314 | Des Moines, IA | 12,465 | 5.0 mi |
| 50320 | Des Moines, IA | 20,027 | 5.3 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 50321, 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 (7,846 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 50321 in?
ZIP code 50321 (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 50321?
ZIP code 50321 in Des Moines, IA has a population of 7,846 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 50321?
The median household income in ZIP 50321 is $80,351, which is 5% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 50321?
The median home value in ZIP 50321 is $320,500, which is 15% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 50321?
The largest racial group in ZIP 50321 is White at 76.2%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 12.7% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 50321?
ZIP code 50321 has 329 business establishments employing approximately 17,023 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 50321?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 50321 are: Professional, scientific, and technical services (36), Other services (except public administration) (31), Wholesale trade (30). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 50321?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 50321 decreased by 0.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 99%. 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 50321?
In ZIP code 50321, 65.4% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 42.4% 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 50321?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 50321 is 20.5 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 50321?
In ZIP code 50321, approximately 59.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 40.2% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 50321?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 50321 is 10.4% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
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What to do with ZIP 50321's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 50321 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.