IA area data
West des moines, IA
Aggregated across 2 ZIP codes in West des moines.
Population: 71,011 (Census ACS)
The median home value in West des moines, IA is $325,944 — up 0.5% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $334,100 after a median 35 days on market. Typical rent runs $1,332/month. 14 schools serve the area (NCES). FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Relatively Moderate, with strongwind, coldwave, drought the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 10.5% below the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).
$325,944
Median home value
+0.5%
1-year change
35
Median days on market
Relatively Moderate
Hazard risk (county)
Home values & appreciation
- Median home value
- $325,944
- 1-year appreciation
- +0.5%
- 3-year appreciation
- +4.8%
- 5-year appreciation
- +19.2%
- 10-year appreciation
- +48.9%
- All-time peak (2026-02)
- $327,941
- House Price Index (state)
- 379.0 (+3.7% YoY)
Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)
Market activity
- Median sale price
- $334,100
- Median list price
- $354,750
- Median price per sqft
- $201
- 1-year sale-price change
- -2.4%
- Median days on market
- 35 days
- Homes sold (recent period)
- 47
- For-sale inventory
- 391
- Sale-to-list ratio
- 99.0%
- Active listings
- 54
- 1-year forecast
- +0.6%
- Days to pending
- 45 days
- New listings (monthly)
- 138
Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)
Rents
- Typical rent
- $1,332/mo
- 1-year rent change
- +1.9%
- Studio fair-market rent
- $1,150/mo
- 1BR fair-market rent
- $1,205/mo
- 2BR fair-market rent
- $1,430/mo
- 3BR fair-market rent
- $1,945/mo
- 4BR fair-market rent
- $1,995/mo
Sources: market rent index (ZIP-level) · HUD Fair Market Rents (metro/county-level, 40th-percentile regulatory reference)
Affordability
- Cost of living index (Low)
- 89.5 (100 = US avg)
- Electricity rate (state-level)
- 13.7¢/kWh
- Natural gas rate (state-level)
- $10.60/MCF
- 30-year mortgage rate (national)
- 6.66%
- 15-year mortgage rate (national)
- 6.00%
Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro/state-level) · EIA energy rates (state-level) · Freddie Mac PMMS (national)
Schools
- Total schools
- 14
- Elementary schools
- 9
- Middle schools
- 1
- High schools
- 2
- School districts serving the area
- West Des Moines Comm School District, Waukee Comm School District
- Schools include
- Jordan Creek Elementary School, Walnut Creek Campus, Valley Southwoods, Hillside Elementary School, Fairmeadows Elementary School
Source: NCES school directory, 2022-23 (school-address-based)
Natural hazards & flood risk
- Overall hazard risk (county)
- Relatively Moderate
- Top hazards (county)
- strongWind, coldWave, drought, hail, heatWave
- Notable hazard ratings (county)
- coldWave: Relatively High · drought: Relatively High · earthquake: Relatively Low · hail: Relatively High · heatWave: Relatively High · iceStorm: Relatively High
- FEMA flood zone (varies by location)
- includes A05
- Flood risk level
- High
- Wildfire risk to homes (county)
- Higher than 28% of US counties
- Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
- 18.0%
- Radon potential (county)
- High radon potential — EPA Zone 1 of 3
- EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
- 2
- Nearest Superfund site
- Railroad Avenue Groundwater Contamination (2.8 mi)
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA flood data (ZIP-level) · USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (county-level) · EPA radon zones + Superfund NPL
Climate (30-year normals)
- Average annual temperature
- 51.0°F
- Average high
- 61.0°F
- Average low
- 42.0°F
- Annual precipitation
- 40.0 in
- Annual snowfall
- 38.9 in
- USDA plant hardiness zone
- 5b (extreme annual low -15 to -10°F)
Sources: NOAA Climate Normals (30-year, nearest-station) · USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
Air quality
- Air quality rating
- Moderate
- Median AQI (annual)
- 52
- Days with Good air quality
- 168
- Days with Moderate air quality
- 182
- Days with Unhealthy air quality
- 3
- Highest AQI recorded (year)
- 166
Source: EPA air quality data (nearest monitoring station, annual)
Walkability & transit
- Walkability index
- 13.5 / 20
- Transit service frequency
- 787
- Jobs reachable by car (30 min)
- 75,836
- Jobs reachable by transit (45 min)
- 56,449
Source: EPA Smart Location Database (metropolitan block groups)
Amenities
- Airports within 30 mi
- 39
- Nearest airport
- Hobbes Field (3 mi)
- Nearest major airport
- Des Moines International Airport (DSM) (5 mi)
- Hospitals nearby (~15 mi)
- 3
- Hospitals include
- VA CENTRAL IOWA HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, UNITYPOINT HEALTH - DES MOINES IOWA METHODIST MEDI, CLIVE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
- Avg hospital rating (CMS)
- 3.5 / 5
- Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
- 4.0 / 5
- Solar radiation rating
- Fair (4.0 kWh/m²/day)
Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)
Migration
- Net migration (county)
- -1,132 tax filers
Source: IRS county-to-county migration data (county-level, ~12-month lag)
Housing stock
- Median year housing built
- 1,993
- Housing built before 1970
- 17.1%
- Housing built 2000 or later
- 36.9%
- Median annual property tax
- $4,818
- Mean commute to work
- 15 min
- Households with broadband internet
- 81.3%
Source: Census ACS 5-year estimates (ZIP-level)
Employment & development
- Total county employment
- 276,007
- Average weekly wage
- $1,354
- Top industries (by employment)
- Health Care, Finance & Insurance, Accommodation & Food
- Annual residential building permits (county)
- 2,295
Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)
How it compares
| West des moines | State median | US median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $325,944 | $211,348 | $289,727 |
| Median sale price | $334,100 | $220,000 | $325,000 |
| Median days on market | 35 days | 48 days | 51 days |
| Typical rent | $1,332/mo | $1,175/mo | $1,808/mo |
| Median annual property tax | $4,818 | $1,927 | $2,006 |
State and US medians are computed across all US ZIP codes with sufficient public-data coverage, from the same sources as the figures above.
Area data compiled from public government, academic, and industry research feeds. Data sources →
Common questions
- What is the median home value in West des moines, IA?
- $325,944.
- What is the median sale price in West des moines, IA?
- $334,100.
- How long do homes take to sell in West des moines, IA?
- Median days on market: 35 days.
- What is typical rent in West des moines, IA?
- Typical rent: $1,332/month.
- What is the natural-hazard risk in West des moines, IA?
- Overall risk: Relatively Moderate (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: strongWind, coldWave, drought, hail, heatWave.
- Is West des moines, IA in a flood zone?
- High (FEMA NFIP). Parts of the area include FEMA flood zone A05; zones vary by location within the city.
- What is the wildfire risk in West des moines, IA?
- Risk to homes is higher than 28% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
- What is the radon potential in West des moines, IA?
- High radon potential — EPA Zone 1 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
- Are there Superfund sites near West des moines, IA?
- 2 current or proposed National Priorities List sites within 5 miles (EPA). Nearest site: Railroad Avenue Groundwater Contamination, 2.8 mi.
- How many schools serve West des moines, IA?
- 14 schools (9 elementary, 1 middle, 2 high) (NCES, 2022-23).
- Is West des moines, IA walkable?
- Walkability index: 13.5/20 (EPA Smart Location Database).
- What is the air quality in West des moines, IA?
- Moderate. Median AQI: 52. (EPA AQI).
- What is the cost of living in West des moines, IA?
- Regional Price Parity: 89.5 (100 = US average) (Low) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).
ZIP codes in West des moines
Selling a home in West des moines, IA?
REAIGENT7 gives every listing its own AI assistant grounded in this same public data — it answers buyer questions about the home and the area, around the clock, and sends every lead to the listing agent. Agents: it installs on your listing page, your website, or WordPress.
Data last updated
Most recent source refresh: Sep 2026. See all data sources →