Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Des Moines, WA Population, Income & Demographics 2026

CSASeattle-Tacoma MSASeattle-Tacoma-Bellevue#23/78 Population

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

32,823

Median Agei

Race & Ethnicityi

White

44%14,446

Hispanic/Latino

19.8%6,504

Black

12.7%4,164

Asian

12%3,934

Two or More

9.2%3,026

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

1.9%620

Other

0.2%75

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.2%54

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

4.4%1,018

High School Diploma

21.3%4,937

Some College (<1 yr)

6%1,394

Some College (1+ yr)

14.1%3,262

Associate's Degree

10.2%2,373

Bachelor's Degree

22.9%5,304

Master's Degree

7.8%1,796

Professional Degree

1.2%272

Doctorate

1.6%378

HS or Higher

89.5%

BA or Higher

33.4%

Graduate+

10.6%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$597,000

Median Renti

$1,799

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

60.6%7,232

Renter-Occupied

39.4%4,693

Total Units

12,528

Homeownership

60.6%

Vacancy Rate

4.8%

Home Values

Under $50K

0.7%50

$50K–$100K

1.5%107

$100K–$150K

0.2%16

$150K–$200K

0.8%59

$200K–$300K

4.4%318

$300K–$500K

25.6%1,852

$500K–$1M

59.5%4,306

$1M+

7.2%524

Rent Distribution

Under $500

135

$500–$750

$750–$1,000

$1,000–$1,250

245

$1,250–$1,500

708

$1,500–$2,000

1,833

$2,000+

1,547

Year Built

2020 or later

2.6%326

2010–2019

6.1%758

2000–2009

6.9%869

1990–1999

7.3%910

1980–1989

17.4%2,182

1970–1979

17%2,125

1960–1969

20.6%2,586

1950–1959

15.6%1,949

1940–1949

2.5%315

1939 or earlier

4.1%508

Heating Fuel

Electricity

54.1%6,455

Utility Gas

37.2%4,437

Fuel Oil

5.6%662

Bottled/LP Gas

0.9%110

Wood

0.8%101

No Fuel

0.8%98

Other

0.5%54

Solar

0.1%8

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$92,483

Mean Household Incomei

$114,664

Per Capita Incomei

$43,717

Poverty Ratei

11.9%

Unemploymenti

7.5%

Labor Forcei

16,628

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

1.9%227

$10K–$15K

1.6%196

$15K–$20K

1.7%206

$20K–$25K

4.1%490

$25K–$30K

2.6%313

$30K–$35K

2.1%252

$35K–$40K

2.5%296

$40K–$45K

6.8%805

$45K–$50K

2.1%251

$50K–$60K

7.6%910

$60K–$75K

7.8%935

$75K–$100K

13.6%1,627

$100K–$125K

8.4%996

$125K–$150K

10.9%1,295

$150K–$200K

12.2%1,449

$200K+

14.1%1,677

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

8,54426%

By Region

Top Countries

Mexico

1,592

Philippines

573

Korea

212

Guatemala

210

India

145

China

108

Poland

Germany

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

14,987

Avg. Commutei

30.8 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

15,377

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

1,796(7% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

90.8%Insured

9.2%Uninsured