Des Moines County, IA

County

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2024 Population

38,487

US Senator

Chuck Grassley

Republican Party

US Senator

Joni Ernst

Republican Party

2024 Median Age

42.3

0.237% 1-year increase

2024 Poverty Rate

12.8%

9.21% 1-year decrease

2024 Median Household Income

$62,928

3.74% 1-year growth

2024 Median Property Value

$136,500

0.365% 1-year decline

2024 Employed Population

18,572

0.429% 1-year decline

About

None of the households in Des Moines County, IA reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

98.5% of the residents in Des Moines County, IA are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Des Moines County, IA are Southeastern Community College (989 degrees awarded in 2023).

In 2024, the median property value in Des Moines County, IA was $136,500, and the homeownership rate was 74.6%.

Most people in Des Moines County, IA drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 18 minutes. The average car ownership in Des Moines County, IA was 2 cars per household.

Des Moines County, IA borders Henderson County, IL, Mercer County, IL, Henry County, IA, Lee County, IA, and Louisa County, IA.

About the photo: View of downtown Burlington, IA

Photo by David Wilson

United States Iowa Burlington, IA-IL

Population & Diversity

Des Moines County, IA is home to a population of 38.5k people, from which 98.5% are citizens. As of 2024, 2.31% of Des Moines County, IA residents were born outside of the country (888 people).

In 2024, there were 17.9 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (32.5k people) in Des Moines County, IA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 1.82k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 1.7k Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

98.5%

2024 Citizenship

98.4%

2023 Citizenship

As of 2024, 98.5% of Des Moines County, IA residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2023, the percentage of US citizens in Des Moines County, IA was 98.4%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Des Moines County, IA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Des Moines County, IA

White (Non-Hispanic)
32.5k ± 233
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
1.82k ± 283
Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic)
1.7k ± 308

3.68%

Hispanic Population

1.42k people

3.68% of the people in Des Moines County, IA are hispanic (1.42k people).

The following chart shows the 8 races represented in Des Moines County, IA as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for Iowa.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
42,808 ± 5,046 people
India
12,283 ± 2,716 people
China
7,889 ± 2,178 people

In 2023, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Iowa was Mexico, the natal country of 42,808 Iowa residents, followed by India with 12,283 and China with 7,889.

Foreign-Born Population

2.31%

2024 Foreign-Born Population

888 people

2.6%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

1k people

As of 2024, 2.31% of Des Moines County, IA residents (888 people) were born outside of the United States, which is approximately the same as the national average of 14%. In 2023, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Des Moines County, IA was 2.6%, meaning that the rate has been decreasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Des Moines County, IA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
1,022 ± 206
Gulf War (1990s)
384 ± 125
Gulf War (2001-)
360 ± 129

Des Moines County, IA has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 2.66 times greater than any other conflict.

The chart shows the distribution of veterans by conflict in Des Moines County, IA.

Economy

The economy of Des Moines County, IA employs 18.6k people. In 2024, the largest industries in Des Moines County, IA were Manufacturing (3,482 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (2,974 people), and Retail Trade (2,357 people), and the highest paying industries were Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($136,685), Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($63,073), and Public Administration ($62,924).

Employment

Occupations

18.6k

2024 Value

± 938

−0.429%

1 Year decline

± 7.3%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Des Moines County, IA declined at a rate of −0.429%, from 18.7k employees to 18.6k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Des Moines County, IA, are Production Occupations (2,120 people), Office & Administrative Support Occupations (2,092 people), and Sales & Related Occupations (1,697 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Des Moines County, IA.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Iowa.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Iowa (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

Industries

Employment by Industries

18.6k

2024 Value

± 938

−0.429%

1 Year decline

± 7.3%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Des Moines County, IA declined at a rate of −0.429%, from 18.7k employees to 18.6k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Des Moines County, IA, are Manufacturing (3,482 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (2,974 people), and Retail Trade (2,357 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Des Moines County, IA, though some of these residents may live in Des Moines County, IA and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$49,262

Median earning men ± $2,489

$34,779

Median earning women ± $1,720

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2024 are Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($78,512), Public Administration ($71,392), and Information ($70,313).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2024 are Construction ($63,409), Public Administration ($51,029), and Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($46,378).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Iowa.

Y-Axis

1.48%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 1.57M people employed in Iowa. This represents a 1.48% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 10.9%.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in Iowa.

Establishments by Size

The industries with the most establishments

101
Other Services (except Public Administration)
59
Retail Trade
49
Finance and Insurance

The visualization shows the distribution of establishments by industry and by size according to the number of employees.

The visualization shows the number of establishments and its share across establishment sizes.

Payroll by Industry Sector

The industries with the highest total annual payroll

$233k
Manufacturing
$186k
Health Care and Social Assistance
$89.4k
Retail Trade

The chart shows the total annual payroll and the average annual payroll by industry.

Civics

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Iowa went to Donald J. Trump with 55.7% of the vote. The runner-up was Kamala Harris (42.5%), followed by Robert Kennedy (0.789%).

Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst are the senators currently representing the state of Iowa. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Iowa is currently represented by 4 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

Voting results are not available for Des Moines County, IA. Showing the available data for Iowa.

2024 Election Results

Donald J. Trump (55.7%)
Republican Party
Kamala Harris (42.5%)
Democratic Party
Robert Kennedy (0.789%)
Independent Party

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Iowa went to Donald J. Trump with 55.7% of the vote. The runner-up was Kamala Harris (42.5%), followed by Robert Kennedy (0.789%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Iowa for each registered party from 1976 to 2024.

Senator Elections

US Senators from Iowa

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Iowa.

Chuck Grassley

Senator from Iowa

Assumed office on January 3, 1981

Joni Ernst

Senator from Iowa

Assumed office on January 3, 2015

Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst are the senators currently representing Iowa.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in Iowa over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

Education

In 2023, universities in Des Moines County, IA awarded 989 degrees. The student population of Des Moines County, IA in 2023 is skewed towards women, with 1,038 male students and 1,524 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Des Moines County, IA are White (477 and 49.2%), Unknown (326 and 33.6%), Black or African American (56 and 5.78%), and Hispanic or Latino (50 and 5.16%).

The largest universities in Des Moines County, IA by number of degrees awarded are Southeastern Community College (989 and 100%).

The most popular majors in Des Moines County, IA are Liberal Arts & Sciences (248 and 25.1%), Nursing Assistant & Patient Care Assistant (185 and 18.7%), and Welding Technology (71 and 7.18%).

Admissions & Enrollments

Enrollments by Gender and Races

In 2023 there were 2,562 students enrolled in Des Moines County, IA, 40.5% men and 59.5% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 1,718 records, of which 61.4% were women and 38.6% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

Registered Nursing
57 degrees awarded
General Business Administration & Management
20 degrees awarded
Liberal Arts & Sciences
248 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common concentation for Associates Degree recipients in Des Moines County, IA was Registered Nursing with 57 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Associates Degree from schools in Des Moines County, IA according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Southeastern Community College

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

989 degrees awarded

In 2023, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Southeastern Community College with 989 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

In 2023, 314 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Des Moines County, IA, which is 0.465 times less than the 675 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2023, the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 477 degrees mean that there were 1.46 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Unknown, with 326 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Public, 2-year ($6,240) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2023.

Public, 2-year ($210) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2023.

Public, 2-year ($1,354) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Des Moines County, IA was $136,500 in 2024, which is 0.41 times smaller than the national average of $332,700. Between 2023 and 2024 the median property value increased from $137,000 to $136,500, a 0.365% decrease. The homeownership rate in Des Moines County, IA is 74.6%, which is higher than the national average of 65.2%.

People in Des Moines County, IA have an average commute time of 18 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Des Moines County, IA is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

In 2025, 13.5% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Des Moines County, IA. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 0.632%.

Housing

Property

$136,500

Median Property Value 2024

±$6,983

$12,823

Median Property Taxes

±$742

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Des Moines County, IA the largest share of households pay taxes in the $3k+ range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Des Moines County, IA compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

74.6%

Homeownership

2024

60.1%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2024

In 2024, 74.6% of the housing units in Des Moines County, IA were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 72.7%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Des Moines County, IA compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$62,928

Median Household Income

± $3,409

17.2k

Number of Households

± 854

In 2024, the median household income of the 17.2k households in Des Moines County, IA grew to $62,928 from the previous year's value of $60,662.

The following chart displays the households in Des Moines County, IA distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Des Moines County, IA is from Iowa.

0.441

2023 Wage GINI in Iowa

0.442

2022 Wage GINI in Iowa

In 2023, the income inequality in Iowa was 0.441 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.304% decline from 2022 to 2023, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Iowa was lower than than the national average of 0.476. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Iowa in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Iowa across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2024

Drove Alone (82.8%)
Carpooled (9.37%)
Worked At Home (4.21%)

In 2024, 82.8% of workers in Des Moines County, IA drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (9.37%) and those who worked at home (4.21%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

18 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Des Moines County, IA have a shorter commute time (18 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.4 minutes). Additionally, 2.31% of the workforce in Des Moines County, IA have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Des Moines County, IA compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Des Moines County, IA distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Des Moines County, IA have 2 cars.

Poverty

Severe Housing Problems

In 2025, 13.5% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Des Moines County, IA. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 0.632%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the population living with severe housing problems.

Poverty & Diversity

12.8% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Des Moines County, IA (4.85k out of 37.8k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.5%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females < 5, followed by Males 25 - 34 and then Females 55 - 64.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Des Moines County, IA is White, followed by Black and Two Or More.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Children in Poverty

In 2025, 20.9% of the children was living in poverty in Des Moines County, IA. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 6.6%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the children living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Security

Crimes & Accidents

Indicator

In 2022, the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population was 518 in Des Moines County, IA. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator grew 43.3 per 100,000 population.

The graph shows the trend in the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population.

Health

96.1% of the population of Des Moines County, IA has health coverage, with 46% on employee plans, 21% on Medicaid, 15.3% on Medicare, 12.9% on non-group plans, and 0.941% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Des Moines County, IA see 1,327 patients per year on average, which represents a 0% change from the previous year (1,327 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1596 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 379 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 49.7% were men and 50.3% were women.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

1,327 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Des Moines County, IA

Primary care physicians in Des Moines County, IA see an average of 1,327 patients per year. This represents a 0% change from the previous year (1,327 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Des Moines County, IA in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2024, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 23.6% under 18 years, 18.2% between 18 and 34 years, 37.3% between 35 and 64 years, and 20.9% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 49.7% were men and 50.3% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

3.88%

Uninsured

46%

Employer Coverage

21%

Medicaid

15.3%

Medicare

12.9%

Non-Group

0.941%

Military or VA

Between 2023 and 2024, the percent of uninsured citizens in Des Moines County, IA declined by 3.1% from 4.01% to 3.88%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Des Moines County, IA changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

Health Indicators

Health Outcomes

Indicator

In 2025, the number of deaths among residents under age 18 per 100,000 population was 66.4 in Des Moines County, IA.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Des Moines County, IA.

Health Behaviors

Indicator

In 2025, the percentage of the adult population (age 18 and older) that reports a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 (age-adjusted) was 36.6% in Des Moines County, IA.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Des Moines County, IA.