Des Moines metropolitan area

Greater Des Moines
Metropolitan statistical area
Des Moines–West Des Moines, IA Metropolitan Statistical Area
The skyline of Downtown Des Moines Iowa State Capitol Iowa State Fair Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden St. Ambrose Cathedral Des Moines City Hall
Des Moines–West Des Moines–Ames, IA CSA   City of Des Moines   City of West Des Moines   City of Ames   Des Moines–West Des Moines, IA MSA   Ames, IA MSA   Oskaloosa, IA µSA   Pella, IA µSA
Coordinates: 41°34′48″N 93°36′45″W / 41.58°N 93.6125°W / 41.58; -93.6125
Country	United States
State(s)	Iowa
Largest city	Des Moines
Other cities	- West Des Moines  - Ankeny  - Urbandale
Area
• Total	3,610 sq mi (9,300 km2)
Lowest elevation	750 ft (228.6 m)
Population  (2024)
• Total	779,048
• Rank	78th in the U.S.
• Density	209/sq mi (80.6/km2)
GDP
• MSA	$67.334 billion (2022)

The Des Moines metropolitan area, officially known as the Des Moines–West Des Moines, IA Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) is located at the confluence of the Des Moines River and the Raccoon River. Des Moines serves as the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Iowa. The metro area consists of six counties in central Iowa: Polk, Dallas, Warren, Madison, Guthrie, and Jasper. The Des Moines–Ames–West Des Moines Combined Statistical Area (CSA) encompasses the separate metropolitan area of Ames (Story and Boone Counties), and the separate micropolitan areas of Oskaloosa (Mahaska County) and Pella (Marion County). The Des Moines area is a fast-growing metro area.

Demographics

Des Moines–West Des Moines, IA Metropolitan Statistical Area

Des Moines–West Des Moines–Ames, IA Combined Statistical Area

Geography

The lowest geographical point in the metropolitan area is the Des Moines River, where it passes the northeastern corner of Warren County, and the southeastern corner of Polk County.

Historical growth

Polk County was the only county in the Des Moines metropolitan area when the United States Bureau of the Budget first defined metropolitan areas in 1950. Warren County was added in 1973 and Dallas County was added in 1983. Guthrie and Madison counties were added in 2003 after metropolitan areas were redefined. In 2005 the area was renamed the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area after a special census showed that West Des Moines had topped the 50,000 mark in population. Jasper County was added in September 2018.

Communities by size

The following are cities and villages categorized based on the United States Census Bureau 2025 population estimates. No population estimates are released for census-designated places (CDPs), which are marked with an asterisk (*). These places are categorized based on their 2020 Census population.

Demographics of metropolitan area

As of the census of 2000, there were 481,394 people, 189,371 households, and 126,177 families residing within the MSA. The racial makeup of the MSA was 90.24% White, 3.85% African American, 0.24% Native American, 2.15% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 2.00% from other races, and 1.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.02% of the population.^{[citation needed]}

The median income for a household in the MSA was $44,667, and the median income for a family was $52,617. Males had a median income of $34,710 versus $25,593 for females. The per capita income for the MSA was $21,253. ^{[citation needed]}

The census tracts for 2000 are shown in the map from the Iowa Data Center.

Economy

Des Moines is a major center of the US insurance industry and has a sizable financial services and publishing business base. The city was credited as the "number one spot for U.S. insurance companies" in a Business Wire article and named the third-largest "insurance capital" of the world. The city is the headquarters for the Principal Financial Group, Ruan Transportation, TMC Transportation, EMC Insurance Companies, and Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. Other major corporations such as Wells Fargo, Cognizant, Voya Financial, Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, ACE Limited, Marsh, Monsanto, and Corteva have large operations in or near the metropolitan area. In recent years, Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard, and Facebook have built data-processing and logistical facilities in the Des Moines area.

The Des Moines area is home to 2 Fortune 1000 headquarters – 2026 rankings

Education

Sports

Transportation

References