Best Places to Live in Des Moines-West Des Moines Metro Area, Iowa

Des Moines, IA Metropolitan Area: Des Moines is the perfect place for both locals and tourists alike. Tourists can explore attractions such as visiting Pappajohn Sculpture Garden; taking in the scenic views at Gray's Lake Park; indulging in delicious cuisine at A Dong Restaurant or attending a show at Des Moines Civic Center. With its vibrant downtown area, accessible transportation system and abundant parks—it’s easy to see why people keep coming back to this city. Capital city - Just south of geographic center of Iowa.

State: Iowa
County:
Metro Area: Des Moines-West Des Moines Metro Area
City: Des Moines, West Des Moines, 59 total

Zip Codes: 50317, 50315, 50023, 50310, 50265, 50322, 50266, 50021, 50320, 50263, 75 total
Cost of Living: -11.9% lower
Time zone: Central Standard Time (CST)
Elevation: 963 ft above sea level

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Des Moines-West Des Moines, Ia Housing Market

Least Expensive Homes	Homes Over 2,000 Sq. Ft.
Most Expensive Homes	Homes less than 10 yrs old
All Single Family Homes

Pros
Attractive downtown
Capital city amenities
Stable economy

Cons
Entertainment
Air service
Harsh winters

What Bert Has To Say About Des Moines-West Des Moines Metro Area

As the cultural and economic heart of Iowa, Des Moines is headquarters to nearly 60 companies and most notably a center for the insurance industry as well as many agriculture-related businesses. Many characterize it as a “gentle” big city, retaining a small-town feel with larger-city amenities, but some also complain of a lack of entertainment and nightlife. It is quintessentially Midwestern with a clean but plain downtown with mostly rectangular tree-lined streets.

Highlights

ECONOMY

The unemployment rate in Des Moines-West Des Moines Metro Area is 4.3% (U.S. avg. is 6.0%). Recent job growth is Positive. Des Moines-West Des Moines Metro Area jobs have increased by 2.6%. More Economy

COST OF LIVING

Compared to the rest of the country, Des Moines-West Des Moines Metro Area's cost of living is 11.9% lower than the U.S. average. More Cost of Living or Compare Des Moines-West Des Moines Metro Area's Cost of Living

WEATHER & CLIMATE

June, September and August are the most pleasant months in the Des Moines-West Des Moines metro area, while January and December are the least comfortable months. Today's Weather | Climate Averages

VOTING

In the last Presidential election, the Des Moines-West Des Moines metro area remained moderately Democratic, 53.0% to 44.8%. More Voting Stats

POPULATION

Des Moines-West Des Moines Metro Area's population is 702,036 people. Since 2020, it has had a population growth of 12.7%. Learn More...

TRANSPORTATION

Average Commute time is 20.3 minutes. The National Average is 26.4 minutes. Learn More...

REAL ESTATE

The median home cost in Des Moines-West Des Moines Metro Area is Real Estate: $253,300. Home appreciation the last 10 years has been 13.1%.

SCHOOLS

Des Moines-West Des Moines Metro Area public schools spend $12,629 per student. The average school expenditure in the U.S. is $12,383. There are about 14.5 students per teacher in Des Moines-West Des Moines Metro Area. More Education

Best Places to Live in Des Moines-West Des Moines Rankings

#2	Most Secure Places to Live in the U.S. (Large Metro Areas)
#6	The Best Cities to Relocate to in America
#12	America's Migraine Hot Spots
#19	Most Secure Places to Live 2011 (Large Metros)
#20	Most Secure Large Cities in the U.S.

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Housing Market in Des Moines-West Des Moines

It's a good time to buy in Des Moines-West Des Moines. Home Appreciation is up 13.1% in the last 12 months.
The median home price in Des Moines-West Des Moines is $253,300.

Real Estate: See Homes

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Reviews for Des Moines-West Des Moines 1 Reviews

Move to Des Moines and don’t move to Chicago - 8/31/2020
I’ve been there many times I’m planning on moving there from Chicago land Area area Because it’s getting out of control there prices have skyrocketed violent crime has... Read More

Heather | Des Plaines, IL | Reply | No Replies

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COMPARE COST OF LIVING

Compare Des Moines-West Des Moines Metro Area, Iowa to any other place in the USA.

MAPS OF DES MOINES-WEST DES MOINES METRO AREA, IOWA

Des_Moines-West_Des_Moines,Iowa Metro Area Map

ZIP CODES IN DES MOINES-WEST DES MOINES METRO AREA, IOWA

50317, 50315, 50023, 50310, 50265, 50322, 50266, 50021, 50320, 50263, 75 total

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United States / Iowa / Des Moines-West Des Moines Metro Area / Counties / Cities / Zip Codes