A+
Overall Niche Grade
How are grades calculated?
  1. Public Schools
    A
  2. Crime & Safety
    B
  3. Housing
    A
  4. Nightlife
    A
  5. Good for Families
    A+
  6. Diversity
    B+
  7. Jobs
    A
  8. Weather
    B-
  9. Cost of Living
    B+
  10. Health & Fitness
    A-
  11. Outdoor Activities
    B-
  12. Commute
    A
View Full Report Card
Population
61,266

Real Estate

Median Home Value
$188,600
National
$178,600
Median Rent
$897
National
$928
Area Feel
Suburban
Rent vs. Own
  • Rent
    40%
  • Own
    60%

West Des Moines Rankings

Niche ranks thousands of places to live based on key statistics from the U.S. Census and and expert insights.

Crime & Safety

Crime & Safety
B
Based on violent and property crime rates.
Violent Crimes
  • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
National
  • Assault
    142
    0
  • Murder
    0
    0
  • Rape
    32
    41
  • Robbery
    25
    0
Property Crimes
  • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
National
  • Burglary
    262
    1
  • Theft
    1,828
    2,081
  • Motor Vehicle Theft
    92
    0

Residents

Diversity
B+
Based on ethnic and economic diversity.
Median Household Income
$71,200
National
$53,889
Children
19%
Education Levels
National
  • Master's degree or higher
    17%
    11%
  • Bachelor's degree
    36%
    19%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    28%
    29%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    15%
    28%
  • Less than high school diploma
    4%
    13%
  • Public Schools
  • Private Schools
  • Colleges

West Des Moines Reviews

77 reviews
All Categories
West Des Moines is a great city to live in. It has grown so much over the last 10 years. Houses going up everywhere, new restaurants, shops and night life. Very safe area with great schools!
Review West Des Moines
I love Des Moines. West Des Moines especially. It's a very nice town and it's filled with family oriented neighborhoods. The area is very nice and has many beautiful houses. There are many places to shop for anything. It is a very safe town, very trustworthy. There are many job opportunities throughout the town. The biggest attraction of West Des Moines is the Jordan Creek Mall. It is pretty diverse around this town and does sometimes have one predominant race in some neighborhoods. There are many three to four lane roads that make commute time a little easier so traffic doesn't get clogged up.
West Des Moines is a perfect fit for myself. I would say it has the best selection of restaurants and entertainment all within a small distance. Night life is great and its truly just getting better. Friendly people all around makes you always feel safe. Essentials are all around from grocery stores, mall, theater, athletic facilities, hardware stores. Really nothings missing from this location