Zip code 50265: West Des Moines, Iowa

Q: What city is zip code 50265?

50265 is assigned to West Des Moines, Iowa. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 50265 in?

50265 is mostly in Polk County, but it extends into 1 other county.

Q: What is the population of 50265?

About 33,488 people live in 50265, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 50265?

The median household income in 50265 is $85,915.

Q: What zip codes are near 50265?

The closest zip codes to 50265 are 50266, 50312, 50321, 50324, 50061.

Residential delivery areaPolk CountyCentral Time

Population

33,488

Median household income

$86K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$282K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$1,106/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

37.4

U.S. 38.9

Land area

19 sq mi

1,736 people/sq mi

Boundary is the Census Bureau's ZIP Code Tabulation Area, which closely tracks the postal delivery area.

About 50265

50265 is a suburban zip code in West Des Moines, Iowa (Polk County), covering 19 sq mi of land. About 33,488 people live here, or 1,736 per square mile. The median resident is 37.4 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $85,915 a year, close to the national median of $80,734. 7.9% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $281,800, or 3.3 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 66% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $1,106 a month.

52% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 17.6 minutes each way, and 16% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in management; sales; and office and administrative support.

How 50265 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Tech workers6.8%
90th
U.S. 3.8% · IA 2.9%26th of 911 in IA
Per capita income$56,470
81st
StrengthU.S. $44,673 · IA $40,87747th of 911 in IA
Bachelor's degree or higher51.5%
81st
StrengthU.S. 35.7% · IA 31.4%30th of 911 in IA
Income inequality (Gini)0.476
79th
U.S. 0.483 · IA 0.44495th of 908 in IA
Work from home16.3%
66th
U.S. 15.1% · IA 11.3%134th of 911 in IA
Median earnings per worker$54,182
66th
U.S. $49,666 · IA $47,712177th of 910 in IA
Broadband access93.9%
65th
U.S. 91% · IA 88.9%151st of 909 in IA
Median household income$85,915
57th
U.S. $80,734 · IA $75,059245th of 896 in IA
Population33,488
56th
U.S. 334,922,499 · IA 3,210,50715th of 911 in IA
Population density1,736/sq mi
54th
U.S. 95/sq mi · IA 58/sq mi29th of 911 in IA
Residents 65 and older16.9%
53rd
U.S. 17.2% · IA 18.1%648th of 911 in IA
Foreign-born residents9.7%
49th
U.S. 14.1% · IA 5.9%55th of 911 in IA
Residents under 1822%
49th
U.S. 22% · IA 22.9%521st of 911 in IA
Veterans5.5%
45th
U.S. 6.2% · IA 6.5%636th of 911 in IA
Homeownership rate66.4%
44th
U.S. 65.2% · IA 71.7%829th of 909 in IA
Median home value$281,800
40th
U.S. $332,700 · IA $208,00086th of 881 in IA
Rent-burdened renters48.1%
40th
U.S. 51.1% · IA 43.9%214th of 882 in IA
Healthcare workers8.7%
38th
U.S. 9.7% · IA 9.2%432nd of 911 in IA
Median age37.4
37th
U.S. 38.9 · IA 38.6720th of 911 in IA
Diversity index40.6
37th
U.S. 61.4 · IA 31.462nd of 911 in IA
Uninsured rate5.4%
37th
U.S. 8.4% · IA 5%291st of 911 in IA
Poverty rate7.9%
31st
U.S. 12.5% · IA 11.1%499th of 909 in IA
Median gross rent$1,106
29th
U.S. $1,413 · IA $97278th of 771 in IA
Government workers11.3%
29th
U.S. 14.5% · IA 14.5%591st of 911 in IA
Housing vacancy4.3%
25th
U.S. 10.1% · IA 8.5%720th of 909 in IA
Self-employed workers6.7%
16th
U.S. 10% · IA 10.2%798th of 911 in IA
Unemployment rate2.3%
8th
StrengthU.S. 5.2% · IA 3.6%448th of 911 in IA
Average commute17.6 min
5th
StrengthU.S. 26.4 min · IA 19.8 min760th of 902 in IA

Measure	50265	Polk	IA	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in IA
Tech workers	6.8%	5.2%	2.9%	3.8%	90th	26th of 911
Per capita incomeStrength	$56,470	$45,622	$40,877	$44,673	81st	47th of 911
Bachelor's degree or higherStrength	51.5%	40.3%	31.4%	35.7%	81st	30th of 911
Income inequality (Gini)	0.476	0.437	0.444	0.483	79th	95th of 908
Work from home	16.3%	15.7%	11.3%	15.1%	66th	134th of 911
Median earnings per worker	$54,182	$52,504	$47,712	$49,666	66th	177th of 910
Broadband access	93.9%	91.9%	88.9%	91%	65th	151st of 909
Median household income	$85,915	$83,576	$75,059	$80,734	57th	245th of 896
Population	33,488	503,175	3,210,507	334,922,499	56th	15th of 911
Population density	1,736/sq mi	879/sq mi	58/sq mi	95/sq mi	54th	29th of 911
Residents 65 and older	16.9%	14%	18.1%	17.2%	53rd	648th of 911
Foreign-born residents	9.7%	10.1%	5.9%	14.1%	49th	55th of 911
Residents under 18	22%	24.4%	22.9%	22%	49th	521st of 911
Veterans	5.5%	5.6%	6.5%	6.2%	45th	636th of 911
Homeownership rate	66.4%	67.4%	71.7%	65.2%	44th	829th of 909
Median home value	$281,800	$262,100	$208,000	$332,700	40th	86th of 881
Rent-burdened renters	48.1%	46.2%	43.9%	51.1%	40th	214th of 882
Healthcare workers	8.7%	8.2%	9.2%	9.7%	38th	432nd of 911
Median age	37.4	36.2	38.6	38.9	37th	720th of 911
Diversity index	40.6	44.5	31.4	61.4	37th	62nd of 911
Uninsured rate	5.4%	5.3%	5%	8.4%	37th	291st of 911
Poverty rate	7.9%	10.3%	11.1%	12.5%	31st	499th of 909
Median gross rent	$1,106	$1,149	$972	$1,413	29th	78th of 771
Government workers	11.3%	12.7%	14.5%	14.5%	29th	591st of 911
Housing vacancy	4.3%	6%	8.5%	10.1%	25th	720th of 909
Self-employed workers	6.7%	7.2%	10.2%	10%	16th	798th of 911
Unemployment rateStrength	2.3%	4.4%	3.6%	5.2%	8th	448th of 911
Average commuteStrength	17.6 min	20 min	19.8 min	26.4 min	5th	760th of 902

The percentile is the share of Americans who live in a zip code with a lower value, so the 50th percentile is typical. Rank 1 is the highest value in the state. Both include zip codes with at least 100 residents. Strengths and weaknesses mark measures in the best or worst fifth nationally, where higher or lower is clearly better (income, poverty, education, commute, broadband, insurance and similar). Measures like age or density are left unmarked.

People

Age

Under 5

15%

5–17

18–24

17%

25–34

13%

35–44

11%

45–54

13%

55–64

10%

65–74

75+

Median age

37.4

Under 18

22%

65 and over

16.9%

Race and ethnicity

White76%
Black5%
Hispanic8%
Asian5%
Native American0.0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0.7%
Multiracial5%

Diversity index

40.6

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

9.7%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

61.9%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

88%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 14,769
Average household size: 2.3
Family households: 58%
Married couples: 45.8%
Living alone: 33.7%
Veterans (of adults): 5.5%
Male / female: 48% / 52%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

$25–50k

19%

$50–75k

15%

$75–100k

13%

$100–150k

17%

$150–200k

12%

$200k+

15%

Median household income

50265

$85,915

Polk Co.

$83,576

Iowa

$75,059

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$56,470

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

7.9%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

26.7%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.476

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

50265

$281,800

Polk Co.

$262,100

Iowa

$208,000

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

50265

$1,106

Polk Co.

$1,149

Iowa

$972

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

67%

2–4 units

5–19 units

14%

20+ units

15%

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 15,433
Owner-occupied: 66.4%
Vacant: 4.3%
Median year built: 1984
Median rooms: 5.5
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 48.1%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 15.8%
Home value to income: 3.3× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

73%

Carpooled

Transit

Walked

0.4%

Bicycle

0.1%

Worked from home

16%

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

15%

10–19

51%

20–29

23%

30–44

45–59

60+

Average commute

17.6 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

2.3%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

69.3%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Management

12%

Sales

11%

Office and admin

10%

Business and finance

10%

Healthcare

Computer and math

Education

Cleaning and personal care

Food service

Construction and repair

Production

Transportation and moving

Legal and social services

Arts, media and sports

Engineering and science

Police and fire

Farming, fishing and forestry

0.1%

Industries

Finance, insurance and real estate

18%

Health care and social assistance

12%

Retail

12%

Professional and technical services

10%

Education

Manufacturing

Restaurants and hotels

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Construction

Other services

Admin, support and management

Public administration

Information

Arts and recreation

Wholesale

Agriculture and mining

0.8%

Median earnings per worker

$54,182

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

6.7%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

11.3%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

11.1%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	50265	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$76,263	$74,888
Service	$28,495	$26,804
Sales and office	$43,973	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$47,459	$49,199
Production and transportation	$41,477	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

18%

Some college

18%

Associate's

Bachelor's

35%

Graduate

17%

High school graduate or higher: 95.9%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 51.5%
Graduate or professional degree: 16.6%
Households with broadband: 93.9%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 80.2%
No internet access: 2.8%
Without health insurance: 5.4%
Limited-English households: 3.2%

Geography

City (USPS): West Des Moines
State: Iowa
County: Polk County
Center point: 41.5427° N, 93.7511° W
Land area: 19 sq mi
Water area: 0.8 sq mi
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

50265 spans 2 counties

Polk County97% of land
Warren County3% of land

Cities and towns within this zip

West Des Moines98% of zip

Census places overlapping the zip's area. Mail may use a different city name than the municipality.

Zip codes near 50265

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
50266	West Des Moines, IA	3.6 mi	37,523	$87,025	$345,600
50312	Des Moines, IA	4.3 mi	15,802	$92,242	$291,900
50321	Des Moines, IA	4.6 mi	7,900	$80,351	$320,500
50324	Windsor Heights, IA	4.7 mi	5,143	$91,707	$267,900
50061	Cumming, IA	5.2 mi	2,123	$130,714	$533,800
50325	Clive, IA	5.5 mi	19,012	$132,121	$401,100
50311	Des Moines, IA	5.7 mi	14,574	$61,957	$226,500
50398	Urbandale, IA · PO box	6.1 mi	—	—	—
50322	Urbandale, IA	6.4 mi	31,931	$92,085	$276,200
50211	Norwalk, IA	6.5 mi	16,835	$103,712	$316,100
50315	Des Moines, IA	6.8 mi	34,816	$60,590	$173,200
50310	Des Moines, IA	7.1 mi	31,177	$76,381	$222,700

Zip codes like 50265 elsewhere

Matched on income, home values, age, density, education, housing and commuting

Questions about 50265

What city is zip code 50265?

50265 is assigned to West Des Moines, Iowa. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 50265 in?

50265 is mostly in Polk County, but it extends into 1 other county.

What is the population of 50265?

About 33,488 people live in 50265, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 50265 in?

50265 is in Central Time.

What is the median household income in 50265?

The median household income in 50265 is $85,915.

What zip codes are near 50265?

The closest zip codes to 50265 are 50266, 50312, 50321, 50324, 50061.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 50265, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.