West Des Moines, Iowa has an overall cost of living index of 92.8, which is 7.2 points below the US average of 100 — making it more affordable than most American cities. Renters pay a median of $1,237 per month, while the typical home is valued around $309,000. Households earn a median of $86,594 per year, leaving rent at a manageable share of income for many residents. Below: housing costs, local wages by occupation, neighborhoods, climate, jobs and major industries, and healthcare access — all drawn from US Census, BEA, BLS, HUD, EPA, and NOAA data.
$86,594
Median Income / yr
Census ACS
$1,237
Median Rent / mo
Census ACS
$309,000
Median Home Value
Census ACS
92.8
Cost of Living Index
Studio FMR
$1,063
HUD · FY2024
1BR Fair Market Rent
$1,109
HUD · FY2024
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,318
HUD · FY2024
3BR Fair Market Rent
$1,794
HUD · FY2024
Fair Market Rent is the 40th percentile of gross rents in the metro area · HUD FY2024
Each category indexed to the US average of 100. Below 100 = cheaper than average.
Overall
92.8
Goods
96.6
Rents / Housing
86.0
Services
88.8
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro-level)
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Software Developer | $119,860 |
| Registered Nurse | $79,650 |
| Elementary Teacher | $56,320 |
| Electrician | $67,140 |
| Accountant | $83,750 |
| Plumber | $67,610 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $245,340 |
| Civil Engineer | $97,420 |
| Operations Manager | $112,810 |
| Market Research Analyst | $83,810 |
| Health Services Manager | $122,380 |
| Truck Driver | $61,030 |
| Physician Assistant | N/A |
| Surgeon | N/A |
| Data Scientist | N/A |
| Computer Engineer | N/A |
Source: BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
Population
71,083
Latest estimate
Median Age
36 yrs
Census ACS
AQI data not available
Source: EPA AirNow
Total Neighborhoods
7
Tracked in our database
Avg Walk Score
N/A
0–100 scale
Avg Median Rent
$1,060
Per month
Avg Home Value
$312,183
Census ACS
| Neighborhood | Walk Score | Median Rent | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZIP 50038 | — | — | — |
| ZIP 50061 | — | $1,125 | $534,500 |
| ZIP 50261 | — | $882 | $269,300 |
| ZIP 50265 | — | $1,013 | $241,800 |
| ZIP 50266 | — | $1,244 | $310,000 |
| ZIP 50312 | — | $1,022 | $259,500 |
| ZIP 50321 | — | $1,073 | $258,000 |
January Avg
23°F
July Avg
76°F
Sunny Days / Year
—
Annual Snowfall
—
Climate category: Continental · Source: NOAA/NCEI 30-year normals.
Healthcare Score
50.8
fair
Hospitals
25
Doctors per 1,000
1.00
Insurance Coverage
95.2%
West Des Moines has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 92.8. The US national average is 100, so West Des Moines is 7.2 points below the national average.
The median gross rent in West Des Moines is $1,237 per month according to US Census ACS data.
The median household income in West Des Moines is $86,594 per year.
The median home value in West Des Moines is $309,000 based on the latest Census ACS survey.
Air quality data for West Des Moines is not yet available.
Tax data for Iowa is not yet available.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
