Des Moines earns a D, 134th of 140 graded towns in Iowa, mostly because of schools and safety. Its schools rank behind 98% of the state's. Its police reported 1,364 violent crimes reported to the FBI in 2025, a higher rate per resident than 93% of U.S. towns. In its favor, it has 82 miles of trail. Des Moines’ violent crime rate is 6.4 per 1,000 residents, above both Iowa’s towns (1.5) and U.S. towns (1.6). Its National Register listings include Terrace Hill and D.S. Chamberlain Building. Only 15 of Iowa’s 276 towns score higher on walkability.

StrongestAOutdoors AWalkability A⁻Hazard riskWeakestD⁻Schools DSafety

What makes Des Moines stand out

Where Des Moines beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.

Fort Des Moines Provisional Army Officer Training School

HistoryA⁻

Settled in 1850

188 places on the National Register

A history going back 176 years.

Des Moines Independent Comm School District

School	Grades	Students
Brubaker Elementary School	K–5	622
Studebaker Elementary School	K–5	561
Garton Elementary	PK–5	535

Worth knowing · SchoolsD⁻

On state tests and graduation

NCES · EDFacts.

Fort Des Moines Provisional Army Officer Training School · National Register of Historic Places

Des Moines’s story

176 years in pictures

Fort Des Moines Provisional Army Officer Training School is one of 2 National Historic Landmarks here, the National Register’s top tier. Its 188 National Register listings are more than in 99% of Iowa towns with a listing.

Census counts: 502 in 1850, 214,133 in 2020. The archive holds 23 old photos and papers going back to 1869 and 4 maps from 1905 on.

1850Des Moines is settled

Explore the history →

How Des Moines grades

Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Iowa), ordered by how far Des Moines is from typical.

How grading works

SchoolsD⁻Open →SafetyDOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 12.4 of 20; 9% of households have no car; 3.6% of workers walk, bike or ride transitAOpen →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listA⁻Open →HealthLess healthy than 69% of U.S. towns; Unitypoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist Medi 1.7 miles awayCOpen →Jobs & income$66K median household income; 123,309 jobs based hereC⁺Open →Cost of livingB⁻Open →

Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.

Outdoors12% conserved landAOpen →History36 notable people born hereA⁻Open →Civic life4 library visits per resident; 4.6 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsB⁺Open →

Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.

Climate–Open →Housing market26 days on market–Open →Who lives here–Open →

How TownRatings grades towns →

Nearby attractions

Casey's Center and 16 more within 40 miles

Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Des Moines. Close and well known come first.

All 19 attractions →

in town Stadium & arenaCasey's Center

in town MuseumIowa State Capitol 8 mi Theme parkAdventureland

in town MuseumDes Moines Art Center

in town Zoo & aquariumBlank Park Zoo

in town Stadium & arenaDrake Stadium

Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons

Photo credits

Casey's Center: Iowahwyman at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Iowa State Capitol: Carol M. Highsmith, Public domain · Des Moines Art Center: Nhandler at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Blank Park Zoo: Lawrence Lansing, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Drake Stadium: U.S. Navy photo by James Woods, Public domain

Getting set up

Moving to Des Moines: who provides what

Who provides power, water and the rest in Des Moines, and how to reach them.

The full setup list →

PowerMidAmerican Energy11.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA

WaterDes Moines Water WorksNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA

Internet9 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC

Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Des Moines’ trash rules yet

SchoolsDes Moines Independent Community School DistrictWhich school depends on your addressNCES

Register to voteOnlineIn Iowa you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before).vote.gov

Who runs elections herePolk County AuditorPolk County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2026

ZIP codes50315, 50317, 50310, 5032050315 17% · 50317 16% · 50310 14% · 50320 10%Census 2020

EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.

The data

Ordered by what stands out in Des Moines.

Des Moines has homes that are cheap against local pay and has colder winter nights than most of the country, though not than most of Iowa; it also reports violent crime at about twice the Iowa rate.

OutdoorsA

Des Moines has set aside 12.5% of its land for conservation

In Des Moines, the trail density is 0.9 miles per square mile. The biggest place to walk is Water Works Park, 1,282 acres with 11.8 miles of trail. This Iowa town has 88 parks and preserves, 4,846 acres in all.

#18for trails in IA

12.5%

conserved · 7,188 of 57,719 acres

82 mi

of trails · 0.9 per sq mi

Biggest places to walk	Trails	Acres
1. Water Works Park	11.8 mi	1,282
2. Ewing Park	8.7 mi	341
3. Iowa State Capitol	7.2 mi	161

Full pageDes Moines’ outdoors pageOpen the page

Trail map82 miles of trail, mapped Pick a walk11.8 miles of trail · Water Works Park Conserved land12.5% conserved · 7,188 acres protected Questions“Where can I hike in Des Moines?”

Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US

SchoolsD⁻

For schools, Des Moines earns a D−

Of its 71 schools, three are listed below, each with the reason. Public schools: the Des Moines Independent Community School District.

2%of IA districts it outscoresD⁻School Grade

School	Level	Students	Letter
Weeks Middle SchoolLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8	Grades 6–8	688	D
Lincoln High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12	Grades 9–12	2,364	D
Delaware ElementaryTop results in townGrades PK–5	Grades PK–5	440	A

Full pageDes Moines’ schools pageOpen the page

The districtsDes Moines Independent Comm School District Vs. the neighborsBehind its 5 graded neighbors Every school71 schools · Brubaker Elementary School Questions“Are Des Moines’s schools good?”

NCES · EDFacts · graded within IA on state tests and graduation

SafetyD

For safety, Des Moines earns a D

Violent crime runs at 6.4 per 1,000 residents, about twice the Iowa rate; the Safety Grade counts each violent crime four times, so this weighs most on that grade. Each of the 4 graded towns on its borders reports less crime per resident, from Windsor Heights (D) to Norwalk (A).

Des Moines’ level of property crime comes in at 28.1 per 1,000 residents.

7%of U.S. towns report more crimeDSafety Grade

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

Des Moines6.4

Iowa2.4

U.S.3.3

Property crime per 1,000 residents

Des Moines28.1

Iowa12.1

U.S.15.5

7th

percentile among U.S. towns we grade

5th

percentile among IA towns

1,364

violent crimes reported in 2025

5,992

property crimes reported in 2025

Full pageDes Moines’ safety reportOpen the page

Violent crime by type6.4 violent crimes per 1,000 Crime over the yearsDown since 2023 Vs. the neighborsBehind its 4 graded neighbors Questions“Is Des Moines, IA safe?”

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police

Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A⁻

Des Moines faces a low natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding

707 flood insurance claims have been filed here, and 33 properties have flooded more than once.

Des Moines’ FEMA hazard score stands at 21 of 100. Since 1978, Des Moines has seen 707 flood insurance claims paid out. Of the losses FEMA expects locally, 41% come from inland flooding and 24% from tornadoes. Households locally have drawn federal disaster aid in 10 declared disasters, most recently in 2024.

21risk score of 100

FEMA risk score

Inland floodingTornadoesHeat waves

707

paid flood claims since 1978

federal disasters paid out here

Full pageDes Moines’ hazards pageOpen the page

What it facesLow risk Flood claims707 paid flood claims · Since 1978 Past disasters10 federal disasters · Paid out in Des Moines Get ready5.1 events a year, on average · Ready for inland flooding

FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

HealthC

More of Des Moines’ adults feel lonely than in the typical Iowa or U.S. town

All 5 graded neighbors score healthier than its C, from Pleasant Hill (B−) to West Des Moines (A).

20% of adults binge drink in Des Moines. Only 5 of the 140 Iowa towns we compare have a higher share of adults who report frequent mental distress than Des Moines. This Iowa town does better than the Iowa average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and worse on 15.

31%healthier than U.S. townsCHealth Grade

	Des Moines	Iowa towns	U.S. towns
Feel lonely (CDC PLACES)	36%	32%	33%
Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES)	75%	78%	79%
Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES)	19%	16%	17%
Food insecurity (CDC PLACES)	19%	12%	14%

32 measures vs. Iowa

1 better16 too close to call15 worse

What stands out	Des Moines	IA
Fewer adults who have had cancer	6.7%	8.7%
More adults facing food insecurity	19.2%	12%

Unitypoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist Medi

1.7 mi away · emergency room

3 of 3

care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health

22nd

percentile among IA towns

Full pageDes Moines’ health reportOpen the page

Everyday habitsMore adults who get no exercise Hospitals & doctors nearby1.7 miles to an ER · Unitypoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist Medi How adults are doingMore adults in fair or poor health Every CDC estimateBetter than IA on 1 of 32

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA

Climate

Des Moines: four seasons and pleasant summers

January nights average 13.2°: colder than most of the country, but milder than 78% of Iowa places with climate records; July afternoons average 85.3°.

For Des Moines, the January low is 13°F. About 37 inches of snow falls in a winter.

37″snow a winter

	Des Moines	Iowa towns	U.S. towns
January low	13°F	12°F	22°F
July high	85°F	84°F	85°F

Typical low → high °F

Winter17–34°

Spring40–61°

Summer63–83°

Fall42–63°

Oct 20

typical first frost

Apr 18

typical last frost

+0.5°

vs. the 20th-century average

Full pageDes Moines’ climate pageOpen the page

A year of weatherJuly highs 85°, January lows 13°Rain & snow37″ of snow a winter · 35 inches of rain and snow a year Heating & coolingMostly a heating bill Then and now+0.5° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

Work & commuteJobs & income grade C⁺

With 1.3 jobs for every working resident, Des Moines draws in 84,818 commuters

The top destinations are West Des Moines (14%), Ankeny (6%) and Urbandale (6%). 41% of the town’s working residents work right in town. Des Moines: 15% of residents live below the poverty line.

41%work in town

	Des Moines	Iowa towns	U.S. towns
Working residents who work in town	41%	31%	8%
Below the poverty line	15%	11%	9.6%
Average trip to work	20 minutes	19 minutes	25 minutes
Work from home	13%	8.5%	11%

Where working residents work

In Des Moines41%

West Des Moines14%

Ankeny6%

Urbandale6%

Clive3%

6 mi

median commute distance

123,309

jobs based in Des Moines

Balanced

jobs vs. working residents

Walkability grade: more walkable than 87% of U.S. towns

Full pageDes Moines’ work & commute pageOpen the page

The jobs here123,309 jobs based here · Balanced Where people work41% work in Des Moines Commute times20 minutes · The average commute How far they goHalf commute less than 6 miles

Census LEHD 2023 · ACS

Who lives here

A younger population than Iowa as a whole

People 65 and older are 13% of residents (18% statewide); adults 18 to 34 are 28% of residents (23% statewide). In Des Moines, the median age is 34.6 years. Among adults 25 and older, 30% have a four-year degree or more, against 31% across Iowa.

34.6median age · IA 38.6

	Des Moines	Iowa towns	U.S. towns
Aged 65 or older	13%	19%	18%
Median age	34.6 years	38.7 years	40.5 years
Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+	30%	25%	29%
Under 18	23%	23%	22%

Des MoinesIowaUnited States

IAU.S.

Ages · share of residents

17%

Education · adults 25 and older

No diploma13%

High school28%

Some college20%

Associate’s10%

Bachelor’s20%

Graduate9%

Women and men · all residents

50.0% women, 50.0% men

That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±0.6 points. Across Iowa, 49.8% of residents are women. Median age: women 34.9, men 34.2.

Ages and education in Des Moines
	Des Moines	IA	U.S.
Under 10	12.6%	12.2%	11.6%
10 to 17	10.6%	10.7%	10.3%
18 to 24	10.8%	10%	9.1%
25 to 34	16.8%	12.5%	13.7%
35 to 44	13.3%	12.6%	13.2%
45 to 54	11.4%	11.3%	12.2%
55 to 64	11.8%	12.6%	12.7%
65 to 74	7.9%	10.6%	10.2%
75 and older	4.8%	7.6%	7%
No diploma	13%	6.7%	10.4%
High school	28.3%	30%	26%
Some college	19.5%	19.7%	19.1%
Associate’s	9.5%	12.1%	8.8%
Bachelor’s	20.4%	20.9%	21.6%
Graduate	9.3%	10.5%	14.1%

Full pageDes Moines by the numbersOpen the page

Ages34.6 median age · 13% are 65 or older Schooling30% have a four-year degree Homes61% own their home · Homeowners Income$66K a year · Median household income

U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates

HousingCost of living grade B⁻

The typical home in Des Moines is valued at about $208K

At 2.4 years of the Des Moines metro’s $86K median household income, the typical home (about $208K) costs less against local pay than in 78% of Iowa towns; that ratio is one input to its B− for cost of living. Its typical home is the least expensive on its borders; Windsor Heights is next at $285K.

Among 140 Iowa towns, just 9 have a lower share of households owning their home than Des Moines. On the market locally: a median 26 days to sell. Also worth knowing: the rent at the middle of the market locally is $1,090 a month.

$208KZillow home value

	Des Moines	Iowa towns	U.S. towns
Households that own their home	61%	70%	73%
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent	49%	42%	48%
Median rent	$1,090 a month	$909 a month	$1,185 a month

Typical home value

Des Moines$208K

Iowa$237K

Market temperature

days on market

98.8%

sale-to-list price

−0.3%

value change, 1 year

276

homes sold in May

Full pageDes Moines’ housing & cost-of-living pageOpen the page

Prices over the yearsAbout the same as a year ago Years of income to buyA typical home costs 3.2 years of income Rents$1,090 a month · Median rent Vs. the neighborsAhead of 4 of its 5 graded neighbors

Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Des Moines

20pages on Des Moines

The big questions

SchoolsD⁻Behind 98% of IA districts · 71 schools SafetyD6.4 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthCBetter than IA on 1 of 32 CDC measures Cost of livingB⁻$208K typical home · down 0.3% in a year Work & commuteC⁺$66K median household income · 123,309 jobs here Natural hazardsA⁻FEMA risk higher than 21% of U.S. communities · inland flooding

Out and about

OutdoorsA82 mi of trails · 12% conserved land PlacesAttractions19 nearby · Casey's Center under 1 mi LibraryB⁺4 library visits per resident CollegesMercy College of Health Sciences, in town

The story

HistoryA⁻Settled 1850 · 188 on the National Register Famous people36 born in Des Moines Town Hall & politicsOne full-time town employee per 104 residents Climate85° summer highs · 37″ of snow

Day to day

News11 recent stories about Des Moines WeatherHandbookTown SquareNeighbors

After high school

Colleges nearby

7 within 15 miles of the center of Des Moines

Mercy College of Health SciencesUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Des MoinesIn town$17,664 tuition Drake UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Des MoinesIn town$52,130 tuition Des Moines Area Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Ankeny9.3 mi$5,790 in-state tuition

About 6 of every 100 Des Moines residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Iowa.

Prices by family income, graduation and earnings →

College town

Drake University calls Des Moines home

3 colleges in town.

Drake University4,094 students on campus

Admission: 64%
Net price: $29,127
Graduate: 74%

Grand View University1,522 students on campus

Admission: 99%
Net price: $21,774
Graduate: 54%

Mercy College of Health Sciences668 students on campus

Admission: 100%
Net price: $26,924
Graduate: 66%

College Scorecard · IPEDS

Landmarks

188 places in Des Moines on the National Register of Historic Places.

All landmarks →

Fort Des Moines Provisional Army Officer Training SchoolNational Historic Landmark

Terrace Hill

Naylor HouseBuilt 1869

Southeast Water Trough

Famous people from Des Moines

36 notable people were born in Des Moines.

See all 36 →

Stanley B. PrusinerAmerican neurologist and biochemist · born 1942

Cloris LeachmanAmerican actress and comedian · 1926–2021

Corey TaylorAmerican musician · born 1973

Bill BrysonAmerican-British author · born 1951

Brandon RouthAmerican actor · born 1979

Joey JordisonAmerican musician · 1975–2021

Des Moines’s neighbors

5 towns share a border with Des Moines.

Explore the map →

All 5 graded towns on its borders grade higher than its D; Windsor Heights (C−) is closest.

West Des MoinesPleasant HillUrbandaleNorwalkWindsor HeightsDes Moines

West Des Moines

W · 14% of Des Moines workers commute here

Visit

Pleasant Hill

Visit

Urbandale

NW · 6% of Des Moines workers commute here

Visit

Norwalk

Visit

Windsor Heights

Visit

How the neighbors grade

Town	IA rank	Overall	Cost	Safety	Schools	Health
Des Moines	#134	D	B⁻	D	D⁻	C
West Des Moines	#58	B⁺	C	C⁺	B⁺	A
Pleasant Hill	#116	C⁻	C	—	D⁻	B⁻
Urbandale	#23	A	C⁺	B⁺	A⁻	A⁻
Norwalk	#2	A⁺	B	A	A	A⁻
Windsor Heights	#119	C⁻	C	D	D⁻	A⁻

Pleasant Hill reports no FBI crime data of its own. Compare Des Moines with a neighbor →

Questions about Des Moines

Short answers, built from the data on this page.

Is Des Moines, IA a good place to live?

Des Moines grades D overall, better than 10% of U.S. towns and #134 of 140 in Iowa. It grades C for health, D for safety and D− for schools. Schools is its weak spot, with a D−.

Is Des Moines, IA expensive?

That is 2.4 years of the area's median household income ($85,890 across the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B−.

What is Des Moines, IA known for?

36 notable people were born here, including Stanley B. Prusiner and Cloris Leachman.

Post to Des Moines

Check your email

Des MoinesIA

Is Des Moines a good place to live?

What makes Des Moines stand out

176 years in pictures

How Des Moines grades

Casey's Center and 16 more within 40 miles

Moving to Des Moines: who provides what

The data

Des Moines has set aside 12.5% of its land for conservation

For schools, Des Moines earns a D−

For safety, Des Moines earns a D

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

Property crime per 1,000 residents

Des Moines faces a low natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding

More of Des Moines’ adults feel lonely than in the typical Iowa or U.S. town

Des Moines: four seasons and pleasant summers

Typical low → high °F

With 1.3 jobs for every working resident, Des Moines draws in 84,818 commuters

Where working residents work

A younger population than Iowa as a whole

Ages · share of residents

Education · adults 25 and older

Women and men · all residents

The typical home in Des Moines is valued at about $208K

Typical home value

Everything we know about Des Moines

Colleges nearby

Drake University calls Des Moines home

Landmarks

Famous people from Des Moines

Des Moines’s neighbors

Questions about Des Moines