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West Des Moines, Iowa

city · Polk County (primary) , Dallas County, Madison County, Warren County

At a glance

71,083
Population
$309,000
Median home value (all homes)
2% above U.S. median
$325,031
Typical market value
Zillow, 2026-07
$1,237/mo
Median rent
8% below U.S. median
$86,594
Median household income
10% above U.S. median
18.3 min
Average commute
93.4%
Homes with broadband
70.8%
Locations with fiber available
2.4%
Unemployment

Cost of living (Clay Affordability Index)

CAI 100 — 0% below the national average. how it's computed

Housing20% above
Goods & services7% below
Utilities9% below
Taxes0% below
Insurance30% below
Commute cost34% below
For business: Iowa is CBII band 2/5 · time to build band 1/5. See state page for the breakdown.

Living here

Colleges in town:
Nearest 4-year college3 mi
Nearest community college10 mi
Nearest technical college3 mi
High school graduates96.3%
College graduates54.9%

Doing business here

Economic development contacts, most local first:

city West Des Moines Economic Development
West Des Moines’ Go West Des Moines site details the City’s Community & Economic Development efforts, including development projects, incentives, and resources for living, working, and doing business in West Des Moines.
county Greater Dallas County Dev Alliance
The Greater Dallas County Development Alliance is a public/private partnership that seeks to connect local communities with global businesses and industries within Dallas County, Iowa. Through its centralized hub of resources, it simplifies the information-gathering process and fosters economic development.
county Warren County Economic Dev Corp
Founded in 1992, the Warren County Economic Development Corporation is a nonprofit organization that supports and promotes business growth in Warren County, Iowa. It is funded through a combination of public and private funds and aims to create and retain jobs throughout Warren County, while strengthening and supporting the area business climate and enhancing the quality of life of workers and residents.
state Greater Cedar Valley Alliance
Grow Cedar Valley is dedicated to advancing economic development, business growth, and community engagement across the Cedar Valley. We connect businesses, entrepreneurs, and community leaders with resources, opportunities, and partnerships to support the local economy.
state Iowa Department of Economic Development
Our core purpose is to create opportunities for Iowans, communities, and businesses to thrive. Through two main divisions – business development and community development – IEDA administers several state and federal programs to meet its goals of assisting individuals, communities and businesses.
state Midwest Partnership Corp
Midwest Partnership EDC is an economic development corporation serving Adair and Guthrie counties in West Central Iowa, focused on retaining, expanding and attracting business to create jobs and grow the tax base.
state Prosperity Eastern Iowa
Prosperity Eastern Iowa is a partnership of economic development stakeholders that leverage financial and human resources to achieve efficiencies, utilizing our natural, cultural, and physical assets to strive for the economic prosperity of the region. Our goal is to leverage resources and foster economic prosperity in the communities we serve.
state Quad Cities First
Chamber focused on helping members connect, collaborate and grow; supports local business growth and economic development in the Quad Cities.
state Siouxland Chamber of Commerce
As the leading Siouxland area business advocate, the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce represents its membership by promoting the economic welfare and quality of life for the tri-state region.
state Western Iowa Development Association
The role of Western Iowa Development Association is to facilitate economic opportunity, business success, community engagement, prosperity and quality of life for rural western Iowa. Our primary functions are to provide services that are effective to both its business members and the communities as a whole and to act as a voice for the business and professional community.
State sales taxYes
State income taxYes
Right-to-work stateYes

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