Electric Consumer

Editor: Katerine G., Editor & Data Researcher · Research & publishing: Electric Consumer Editorial Team · Data retrieved · Sources named on this page: EIA-861, EPA eGRID, Census ACS, DOE LEAD, NOAA · How we got these numbers · Report an error

Electricity rates in West Des Moines, Iowa

West Des Moines, IA ranks 1st of 15 Iowa cities for the share of homes heated by electricity (40%). West Des Moines, Iowa has 69,893 residents in 31,825 households; 39.8% heat with electricity.

West Des Moines on the map

Polk County with West Des Moines markedPolkWest Des Moines

Polk County, with West Des Moines marked

Cost of living with electricity in West Des Moines

West Des Moines, IA: 31,825 households at $974 a year per home for electricity (Polk County average, DOE LEAD) come to about $31.0 million, an estimate; all home energy is $1,641 a year per household.

Home energy cost, West Des Moines, IA
Group in West Des Moines, IAHouseholdsPower per homePower bill of the groupShare of West Des Moines, IA median income
West Des Moines, IA, all households31,825$974$31.0 million1.15%
West Des Moines, IA, homeowners18,252$1,168$21.3 million1.38%
West Des Moines, IA, renters13,573$578$7.8 million0.68%

Who supplies West Des Moines

Polk County lists 4 utilities for West Des Moines, IA (69,893 residents): homes pay 11.01 to 17.90 cents per kWh, about $92 to $149 a month at 832 kWh, 1.3% to 2.1% of the $84,925 West Des Moines median income. Polk County page.

Facts about West Des Moines

Residents of West Des Moines, IA, ACS 2023
69,8937 of 15 Iowa cities with 30,000+
Median household income in West Des Moines, IA
$84,9255 of 15 of those cities
Households in West Des Moines, IA
31,8252.20 people each
Owner-occupied homes in West Des Moines, IA
57.4%18,252 owners and 13,573 renter households
Housing units in West Des Moines, IA
33,6051,780 vacant or seasonal
Homes heated by electricity in West Des Moines, IA
39.8%12,651 of 31,825 homes
Land area of West Des Moines, IA
47.3 sq mi1,477.9 people per sq mi
Bill as share of income in West Des Moines, IA
1.3% to 2.1%at 832 kWh a month over the $84,925 median household income
Wind and tornado reports within 15 miles of West Des Moines, IA
284NWS point reports 2015 to 2025, 406.3 per 100,000 residents
Median year homes were built in West Des Moines, IA
19938,951 of 33,605 homes (26.6%) before 1980
Median home value and rent in West Des Moines, IA
$286,300$1,194 gross rent a month, 5.00% of value a year

Electricity price since 2015 around West Des Moines

MidAmerican Energy Co charged West Des Moines homes 9.75 ¢/kWh in 2015. West Des Moines: 11.01 ¢ in 2024, 13% up. West Des Moines: against 15% up for the Iowa average.

West Des Moines: a 832 kWh month at that price. West Des Moines: $81 in 2015, $92 in 2024. West Des Moines: $1,100 a year, 1.3% of the $84,925 median income.

West Des Moines: 10 yearly prices
YearMidAmerican Energy Co, West Des MoinesWest Des Moines: Gap to Iowa averageWest Des Moines: Gap to U.S. average
2015, West Des Moines9.75-1.88-2.90
2016, West Des Moines10.23-1.71-2.32
2017, West Des Moines10.55-1.79-2.34
2018, West Des Moines10.30-1.94-2.57
2019, West Des Moines10.28-2.18-2.73
2020, West Des Moines10.34-2.12-2.81
2021, West Des Moines10.75-1.98-2.91
2022, West Des Moines11.01-2.14-4.03
2023, West Des Moines11.00-2.31-5.00
2024, West Des Moines11.01-2.39-5.47

West Des Moines, IA: EIA-861 home prices, 2015 to 2024, not a West Des Moines, IA price.

CSV

Who lives in West Des Moines: income, cars, homes

West Des Moines, IA homes: 16,214 have 3+ bedrooms, 4,818 none or one, median 5.2 rooms. Of 39,859 workers in West Des Moines, IA, 6,905 work from home, 28,673 drive alone, 115 ride transit and 443 walk. In West Des Moines, IA, 5,303 of 13,122 renter households pay 30% or more of income in rent; 14,682 households moved in since 2018 and 3,990 before 2000, so electric accounts turn over quickly. In West Des Moines, IA, 1,229 households own no vehicle and 17,607 own two or more; home EV charging depends on that. In West Des Moines, IA, 5,448 of 31,825 households earn under $35,000, 8,450 $35,000-$75,000, 9,954 $75,000-$150,000 and 7,973 $150,000 or more. 5,057 residents of West Des Moines, IA live below the poverty line, and the median age is 36.5.

Household income in West Des Moines, IA

% of households by income, West Des Moines, IA

  • Under $35,00017.1
  • $35,000 to $75,00026.6
  • $75,000 to $150,00031.3
  • $150,000 or more25.1
West Des Moines, IA households against Iowa cities with 30,000+ residents
West Des Moines, IAValueRank in Iowa (1 = highest)
West Des Moines, IA, households under $35,00017.1%11 of 15
West Des Moines, IA, households $150,000 or more25.1%4 of 15
West Des Moines, IA, residents below poverty7.3%11 of 15
West Des Moines, IA, median age36.59 of 15
West Des Moines, IA, homes with 3+ bedrooms48.2%15 of 15
West Des Moines, IA, households without a vehicle3.9%12 of 15
West Des Moines, IA, households with 2+ vehicles55.3%10 of 15
West Des Moines, IA, workers at home17.3%1 of 15
West Des Moines, IA, cost-burdened renters40.4%13 of 15
West Des Moines, IA, moved in since 201846.1%3 of 15
West Des Moines, IA, moved in before 200012.5%12 of 15

Housing and heating in West Des Moines

West Des Moines, IA: 8,951 of 33,605 homes were built before 1980 and 12,410 in 2000 or later. West Des Moines, IA has 15,063 detached houses, 13,595 homes in 5+ unit buildings and 303 mobile homes.

Age of homes in West Des Moines, IA

% of homes by decade built, West Des Moines, IA

  1. 4pre-40
  2. 240s
  3. 650s
  4. 460s
  5. 1170s
  6. 1680s
  7. 2090s
  8. 1800s
  9. 1710s
  10. 220+

Heating fuel in West Des Moines, IA

% of homes by main fuel, West Des Moines

  • Utility gas58.6
  • Electricity39.8
  • Propane1.3
West Des Moines, IA housing against its county and state cities
West Des Moines, IAValueCountyGapRank (1 = highest)
West Des Moines, IA, median year built19931981+12 years2 of 15
West Des Moines, IA, built before 198026.6%49.3%-22.7 points14 of 15
West Des Moines, IA, built 2000 or later36.9%29.1%+7.8 points4 of 15
West Des Moines, IA, detached houses44.8%62.4%-17.6 points13 of 15
West Des Moines, IA, apartments in 5+ unit buildings40.5%24.3%+16.2 points2 of 15
West Des Moines, IA, mobile homes0.9%2.1%-1.2 points14 of 15
West Des Moines, IA, renter households42.6%32.9%+9.7 points3 of 15
West Des Moines, IA, median home value$286,300$248,400+$37,9004 of 15
West Des Moines, IA, median gross rent a month$1,194$1,113+$812 of 15
West Des Moines, IA, people per household2.182.41-0.2313 of 15

Outage risk around West Des Moines

West Des Moines, IA, NWS reports within 15 miles of the center, 2015 to 2025: 260 wind and 24 tornado, 406.3 per 100,000 residents of 69,893. Top gust near West Des Moines, IA: 70 knots, 81 mph. Damage near West Des Moines, IA: $104.0M.

Reports within 15 miles of West Des Moines, IA

wind and tornado reports, West Des Moines, IA

  1. 20'15
  2. 20'16
  3. 35'17
  4. 28'18
  5. 31'19
  6. 53'20
  7. 18'21
  8. 7'22
  9. 3'23
  10. 47'24
  11. 22'25
Storm reports near West Des Moines, IA
West Des Moines, IAWindTornadoTotal
West Des Moines, IA, 201516420
West Des Moines, IA, 201620020
West Des Moines, IA, 201735035
West Des Moines, IA, 201828028
West Des Moines, IA, 201929231
West Des Moines, IA, 202050353
West Des Moines, IA, 202117118
West Des Moines, IA, 2022527
West Des Moines, IA, 2023303
West Des Moines, IA, 2024351247
West Des Moines, IA, 202522022

Climate and electric heating around West Des Moines

West Des Moines is in Polk County, IA. West Des Moines: degree days are county values.

West Des Moines: 6,447 heating degree days a year. West Des Moines: 949 cooling degree days a year.

West Des Moines: degree days, electric heat
West Des MoinesCounty value
West Des Moines, heating degree days, 1991-2020 normal6,447
West Des Moines, heating degree days, 2016-2025 mean6,164
West Des Moines, cooling degree days, 1991-2020 normal949
West Des Moines, cooling degree days, 2016-2025 mean1,077
West Des Moines, homes heated with electricity, ACS 2019-202331.7%

West Des Moines: NOAA nClimDiv 7 Oct 2026; ACS B25040.

Analyst note on West Des Moines

West Des Moines, IA counts 69,893 residents in 31,825 households, on 47.3 square miles. Household income in West Des Moines, IA is $84,925; 18,252 of its 31,825 households own. 12,651 of the 31,825 occupied homes in West Des Moines, IA heat with electricity.

West Des Moines, IA has 33,605 housing units, 1,780 of them vacant or seasonal. West Des Moines, IA ranks 1st of 15 Iowa cities for people working from home (17.3% of workers). West Des Moines, IA ranks 2nd of 15 Iowa cities for the newest homes (median year built 1993).

West Des Moines, IA ranks 2nd of 15 Iowa cities for the highest median rent ($1,194 a month).

Bill and heat pump calculator, West Des Moines

Compare West Des Moines with nearby cities

Nearest Iowa cities with 30,000+ residents to West Des Moines, IA
City near West Des Moines, IADistance from West Des MoinesResidentsMedian incomeMedian year builtMedian home valueStorm reports within 15 milesWork from home
West Des Moines, IA (this page)0 mi69,893$84,9251993$286,30028417.3%
Urbandale, IA6.0 mi north46,026 (-23,867)$113,086 (+$28,161)1992 (-1 yr)$318,800 (+$32,500)298 (+14)15.9% (-1.5 pts)
Des Moines, IA9.0 mi east212,464 (+142,571)$63,966 (-$20,959)1960 (-33 yr)$183,700 (-$102,600)295 (+11)11.4% (-5.9 pts)
Ankeny, IA15.5 mi northeast70,542 (+649)$106,603 (+$21,678)2005 (+12 yr)$311,300 (+$25,000)246 (-38)16.4% (-0.9 pts)
Ames, IA33.9 mi north66,112 (-3,781)$60,102 (-$24,823)1991 (-2 yr)$263,800 (-$22,500)103 (-181)11.3% (-6.0 pts)
Cedar Falls, IA95.5 mi northeast40,662 (-29,231)$74,165 (-$10,760)1975 (-18 yr)$252,500 (-$33,800)85 (-199)11.0% (-6.3 pts)

ZIP codes in West Des Moines

ZIP area touching West Des Moines, IAShare of the ZIP's land inside West Des MoinesShare of West Des Moines's land in the ZIP
50266 (West Des Moines, IA)99.7%47.1%
50265 (West Des Moines, IA)98.4%40.2%
50061 (West Des Moines, IA)9.7%6.3%
50261 (West Des Moines, IA)4.4%6.0%

Census 2020 ZCTA to place land-area overlap. Look up any ZIP.

Iowa: home prices since 2001, planned plants.

Questions on West Des Moines

West Des Moines: what is the electricity rate?

West Des Moines, IA has no price of its own; its 69,893 residents are served by one of 4 utilities, and a 832 kWh month costs $92 to $149.

West Des Moines: how does it rank among Iowa cities?

West Des Moines, IA: rank 7 of 15 by its 69,893 residents, rank 5 of 15 by $84,925 median income.

West Des Moines: how many homes heat with electricity?

West Des Moines, IA: 12,651 of 31,825 occupied homes, 39.8%; Polk County 31.7%.

West Des Moines: how much income goes to electricity?

At 832 kWh a month, 1.3% to 2.1% of the $84,925 median income in West Des Moines, IA.

West Des Moines: damaging storms reported nearby?

284 NWS wind and tornado reports within 15 miles of the center of West Des Moines, IA, 2015 to 2025, 406.3 per 100,000 residents.

How old are the homes in West Des Moines?

West Des Moines, IA: median home built 1993; 8,951 of 33,605 homes (26.6%) predate 1980, 15,063 are detached and 13,595 sit in buildings of 5+ units.

How big are the homes in West Des Moines, IA?

16,214 of 33,605 homes have 3+ bedrooms; median 5.2 rooms.

How many people in West Des Moines, IA work from home?

6,905 of 39,859 workers.

How many West Des Moines, IA renters struggle with rent?

5,303 of 13,122 renter households pay 30% or more of income in rent.

Primary sources for West Des Moines, IA

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West Des Moines, IA ranks 1st of 15 Iowa cities for the share of homes heated by electricity (40%).