Poverty in Des Moines, Iowa
What is the poverty rate in Des Moines, Iowa?
The poverty rate in Des Moines is 18.1%. One out of every 5.5 residents of Des Moines lives in poverty.
How many people in Des Moines, Iowa live in poverty?
37,997 of 209,702 Des Moines residents reported income levels below the poverty line in the last year.
How does the poverty rate in Des Moines compare to the rest of Iowa?
The Poverty Rate across the state of Iowa is 12.0%, meaning Des Moines has a dramatically higher than average percentage of residents below the poverty line when compared to the rest of Iowa.
Historical Des Moines, Iowa Poverty Rate
| Year | Poverty Rate | YoY % Change | National |
|---|---|---|---|
2010 |
17.7% | 15.3% | |
2011 |
20.7% | 16.0% | 15.9% |
2012 |
19.0% | 9.0% | 15.9% |
2013 |
20.7% | 9.0% | 15.8% |
2014 |
21.6% | 4.0% | 15.5% |
2015 |
16.6% | 29.0% | 14.7% |
2016 |
16.2% | 2.0% | 14.0% |
2017 |
14.6% | 10.0% | 13.4% |
Des Moines, Iowa Poverty Rate By Race
| Race | Population | Poverty Rate | National Poverty Rate | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Black |
23,315 |
33.5% | 25.2% | 10.9% |
Asian |
12,711 |
18.0% | 11.9% | 5.9% |
Other |
5,269 |
27.3% | 23.8% | 2.5% |
Two Or More Races |
8,165 |
33.6% | 18.4% | 3.8% |
White |
138,753 |
13.1% | 10.3% | 64.6% |
Hispanic |
27,762 |
25.9% | 22.2% | 12.9% |
What's the Poverty Rate in Des Moines, Iowa By Race?
33.5% of Black residents of Des Moines, Iowa live below the poverty line.
The Poverty Rate of black residents in Des Moines, Iowa is the same as than the national average. 7,816 of 23,315 black Iowans live below the poverty line. Approximately 10.9% of the total population of Des Moines, Iowa are black.
18.0% of Asian residents of Des Moines, Iowa live below the poverty line.
The Poverty Rate of asian residents in Des Moines, Iowa is dramatically higher than the national average of 11.9%. 2,292 of 12,711 asian Iowans live below the poverty line. Approximately 5.9% of the total population of Des Moines, Iowa are asian.
13.1% of White residents of Des Moines, Iowa live below the poverty line.
The Poverty Rate of white residents in Des Moines, Iowa is the same as than the national average. 18,130 of 138,753 white Iowans live below the poverty line. Approximately 64.6% of the total population of Des Moines, Iowa are white.
25.9% of Hispanic residents of Des Moines, Iowa live below the poverty line.
The Poverty Rate of hispanic residents in Des Moines, Iowa is dramatically higher than the national average of 22.2%. 7,188 of 27,762 hispanic Iowans live below the poverty line. Approximately 12.9% of the total population of Des Moines, Iowa are hispanic.
Des Moines, Iowa Poverty Rate By Sex
What is the poverty rate for men vs women living in Des Moines, Iowa?
Male
The Poverty Rate for men who live in Des Moines, Iowa is 16.2%.
Female
The Poverty Rate for women who live in Des Moines, Iowa is 19.9%.
Poverty Rate Disparity for Male vs Female Residents of Des Moines, Iowa
Female residents of Des Moines, Iowa are meaningfully(22%) more likely to live in poverty than males.
16,835 of 103,622 males in Des Moines live below the poverty line.
21,162 of 106,080 females in Des Moines live below the poverty line.
Des Moines, Iowa Poverty Rate By School Enrollment
Understanding where poverty hits hardest in Des Moines can be better understood by segmenting poverty by whether or not the resident is in school or not.
- Enrolled in School in Des Moines, Iowa have a Poverty Rate of 27.1%.
- Not Enrolled in School in Des Moines, Iowa have a Poverty Rate of 14.4%.
Poverty for younger ages in Des Moines is seen as the most undesirable for the future of the community.
- Enrolled in Nursery School in Des Moines, Iowa have a Poverty Rate of 32.9%.
- Enrolled in Elementary School(Grades 1-4) in Des Moines, Iowa have a Poverty Rate of 27.9%.
Poverty for developing children and young adults in Des Moines can have drastic impacts on graduation and college attendance rates.
- Enrolled in Middle School(Grade 5-8) in Des Moines, Iowa have a Poverty Rate of 28.1%.
- Enrolled in High School (Grades 9-12) in Des Moines, Iowa have a Poverty Rate of 22.5%.
Adult students in college, graduate or professional schools generally bring employers, revenue and higher living wages post-graduation and are seen as a positive to the community.
- Enrolled in Undergraduate School in Des Moines, Iowa have a Poverty Rate of 27.7%.
- Enrolled in Graduate or Professional School in Des Moines, Iowa have a Poverty Rate of 31.3%.
Des Moines, Iowa Poverty Rate By Age
What's the Poverty Rate By Age in Des Moines, Iowa?
Breakdown of Des Moines, Iowa Poverty Rate By Age
| Age | Poverty Rate |
|---|---|
Children Under 6 |
28.9% |
Children 6 to 11 Years Old |
27.8% |
Adolescents 12 to 17 Years Old |
25.6% |
Adults 18 to 59 Years Old |
16.3% |
Adults 60 to 74 Years Old |
10.6% |
75 to 84 Years Old |
11.9% |
Over 85 Years Old |
10.5% |
Des Moines, Iowa Poverty Rate By Place of Birth
What is the poverty rate for residents of Des Moines, Iowa born US Citizens vs Foreign-Born?
US Citizen
The Poverty Rate for residents of Des Moines, Iowa who were born citizens of the United States is 17.4%.
Foreign
The Poverty Rate for residents of Des Moines, Iowa who were born citizens of a country other than the US is 23.1%.
Poverty Rate for residents of Des Moines, Iowa born US Citizens vs Foreign-Born
Foreign-born residents of Des Moines, Iowa have a higher poverty rate than those who were born US citizens.
Of the 183,375 residents of Des Moines, Iowa who were born citizens of the United States, 31,927 (17.4%) had income levels below the poverty line within the past year.
Conversely, 6,070 (23.1%) of 26,327 residents of Des Moines, Iowa who were born citizens of a country other than the US reported income levels below the poverty line within the past year.
Poverty Rate in Des Moines, Iowa
The poverty rate in Des Moines is 18.1%.Des Moines is in Polk County, Warren County.
Here is a comparison of Poverty Rate by city(minimum 1,000 residents) in Polk County, Warren County.
| City | Poverty Rate |
|---|---|
| Altoona | 6.1% |
| Ankeny | 6.3% |
| Bondurant | 4.1% |
| Johnston | 4.3% |
| Pleasant Hill | 4.9% |
| Polk City | 4.0% |
| Saylorville | 20.5% |
| Windsor Heights | 11.1% |
Research & Reports
National Poverty Statistics
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Iowa Poverty Statistics
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Iowa Poverty Statistics
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