West Des Moines, IA Demographics

A map of West Des Moines's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	54,992	52,552	77.4%	76.5%
Hispanic	4,603	4,568	6.5%	6.6%
Asian	4,504	4,780	6.3%	7.0%
Black	3,581	3,662	5.0%	5.3%
Multiracial	3,082	2,752	4.3%	4.0%
Native American/Other	321	409	0.5%	0.6%

West Des Moines, Iowa has an estimated population of 71,083, an increase from the 68,723 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 77.4% White, 6.5% Hispanic, 6.3% Asian, 5.0% Black, 4.3% Multiracial, and 0.5% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of West Des Moines, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

West Des Moines has become less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably more diverse than Iowa overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In West Des Moines, that probability was 40.2% in 2020 and 38.9% in the most recent ACS estimates.

West Des Moines is ranked the 7th most populous place in Iowa, out of 1,026 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). West Des Moines was ranked the 6th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

West Des Moines's White Population

54,992 residents of West Des Moines, or 77.4% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in West Des Moines is slightly lower than in Iowa overall, where 82.3% of the population is White. West Des Moines ranks 979th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 1,026 places.

Since the 2020 Census, West Des Moines's White population has grown by an estimated 4.6%. White residents' share of West Des Moines's population has increased from 76.5% to 77.4%.

West Des Moines is less White than neighboring Clive (78.2% White), Cumming (92.1% White), Windsor Heights (81.4% White), Urbandale (79.4% White), and Norwalk (92.6% White).

West Des Moines's Black Population

3,581 residents of West Des Moines, or 5.0% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in West Des Moines is comparable to the share in Iowa overall, where 3.8% of the population is Black. West Des Moines ranks 21st statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 1,026 places.

Since the 2020 Census, West Des Moines's Black population has declined by an estimated 2.2%. Black residents' share of West Des Moines's population has remained roughly unchanged at 5.0%.

West Des Moines is more Black than neighboring Clive (2.9% Black), Cumming (2% Black), Urbandale (4.8% Black), and Norwalk (0.1% Black). West Des Moines is less Black than neighboring Windsor Heights (5.6% Black).

West Des Moines's Asian Population

4,504 residents of West Des Moines, or 6.3% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in West Des Moines is slightly higher than in Iowa overall, where 2.5% of the population is Asian. West Des Moines ranks 9th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 1,026 places.

Since the 2020 Census, West Des Moines's Asian population has declined by an estimated 5.8%. Asian residents' share of West Des Moines's population has decreased from 7.0% to 6.3%.

West Des Moines is more Asian than neighboring Clive (4.3% Asian), Cumming (0.9% Asian), Windsor Heights (4.7% Asian), Urbandale (4.9% Asian), and Norwalk (1.2% Asian).

West Des Moines's Hispanic Population

4,603 residents of West Des Moines, or 6.5% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in West Des Moines is comparable to the share in Iowa overall, where 7.3% of the population is Hispanic. West Des Moines ranks 148th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 1,026 places.

Since the 2020 Census, West Des Moines's Hispanic population has remained roughly the same. Hispanic residents' share of West Des Moines's population has remained roughly unchanged at 6.5%.

West Des Moines is more Hispanic than neighboring Cumming (1.8% Hispanic), Windsor Heights (4.3% Hispanic), and Norwalk (3% Hispanic). West Des Moines is less Hispanic than neighboring Clive (12.8% Hispanic), and Urbandale (7.2% Hispanic).

West Des Moines's Native American/Other Population

321 residents of West Des Moines, or 0.5% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in West Des Moines is comparable to the share in Iowa overall, where 0.6% of the population is Native American/Other. West Des Moines ranks 279th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 1,026 places.

Since the 2020 Census, West Des Moines's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 21.5%. Native American/Other residents' share of West Des Moines's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.5%.

West Des Moines is more Native American/Other than neighboring Clive (0.3% Native American/Other), Cumming (0% Native American/Other), Windsor Heights (0% Native American/Other), Urbandale (0.4% Native American/Other), and Norwalk (0.2% Native American/Other).

West Des Moines's Multiracial Population

3,082 residents of West Des Moines, or 4.3% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in West Des Moines is comparable to the share in Iowa overall, where 3.5% of the population is Multiracial. West Des Moines ranks 213th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 1,026 places.

Since the 2020 Census, West Des Moines's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 12.0%. Multiracial residents' share of West Des Moines's population has remained roughly unchanged at 4.3%.

West Des Moines is more Multiracial than neighboring Clive (1.6% Multiracial), Cumming (3.1% Multiracial), Windsor Heights (4.1% Multiracial), Urbandale (3.3% Multiracial), and Norwalk (2.9% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.