HousingPermits

Metro area in Iowa · part of the Des Moines-West Des Moines-Ames, IA combined area

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA

The Des Moines-West Des Moines metro area authorized 6,249 new housing units in 2025, the largest total of the 8 metro areas based in Iowa. Relative to population, the rate was 8.2 units per 1,000 residents in 2025, the highest rate of the 34 metro areas based in the West North Central states. Its 2025 total reached 90% of the 2021 high, the closest to a series peak among the 34 metro areas based in the West North Central states.

02,0004,0006,0008,0002004: 5,570 units (4,754 single-family, 100 in 2–4 unit, 716 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 6,437 units (5,262 single-family, 82 in 2–4 unit, 1,093 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 5,220 units (3,941 single-family, 74 in 2–4 unit, 1,205 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 3,900 units (3,210 single-family, 111 in 2–4 unit, 579 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 2,959 units (1,863 single-family, 21 in 2–4 unit, 1,075 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 2,520 units (1,827 single-family, 53 in 2–4 unit, 640 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 2,847 units (2,232 single-family, 104 in 2–4 unit, 511 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 2,668 units (2,277 single-family, 39 in 2–4 unit, 352 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 4,197 units (2,837 single-family, 18 in 2–4 unit, 1,342 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 4,960 units (3,344 single-family, 112 in 2–4 unit, 1,504 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 4,469 units (2,985 single-family, 61 in 2–4 unit, 1,423 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 5,750 units (3,417 single-family, 317 in 2–4 unit, 2,016 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 6,756 units (3,817 single-family, 48 in 2–4 unit, 2,891 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 6,444 units (3,760 single-family, 61 in 2–4 unit, 2,623 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 4,998 units (3,306 single-family, 68 in 2–4 unit, 1,624 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 5,269 units (3,915 single-family, 42 in 2–4 unit, 1,312 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 6,508 units (4,740 single-family, 70 in 2–4 unit, 1,698 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 6,969 units (4,888 single-family, 195 in 2–4 unit, 1,886 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 6,122 units (3,646 single-family, 167 in 2–4 unit, 2,309 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 5,000 units (3,689 single-family, 110 in 2–4 unit, 1,201 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 5,064 units (3,717 single-family, 126 in 2–4 unit, 1,221 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 6,249 units (3,426 single-family, 148 in 2–4 unit, 2,675 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252021 high · 6,9692009 low · 2,52002,5005,0007,5002004: 5,570 units (4,754 single-family, 100 in 2–4 unit, 716 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 6,437 units (5,262 single-family, 82 in 2–4 unit, 1,093 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 5,220 units (3,941 single-family, 74 in 2–4 unit, 1,205 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 3,900 units (3,210 single-family, 111 in 2–4 unit, 579 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 2,959 units (1,863 single-family, 21 in 2–4 unit, 1,075 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 2,520 units (1,827 single-family, 53 in 2–4 unit, 640 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 2,847 units (2,232 single-family, 104 in 2–4 unit, 511 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 2,668 units (2,277 single-family, 39 in 2–4 unit, 352 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 4,197 units (2,837 single-family, 18 in 2–4 unit, 1,342 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 4,960 units (3,344 single-family, 112 in 2–4 unit, 1,504 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 4,469 units (2,985 single-family, 61 in 2–4 unit, 1,423 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 5,750 units (3,417 single-family, 317 in 2–4 unit, 2,016 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 6,756 units (3,817 single-family, 48 in 2–4 unit, 2,891 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 6,444 units (3,760 single-family, 61 in 2–4 unit, 2,623 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 4,998 units (3,306 single-family, 68 in 2–4 unit, 1,624 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 5,269 units (3,915 single-family, 42 in 2–4 unit, 1,312 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 6,508 units (4,740 single-family, 70 in 2–4 unit, 1,698 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 6,969 units (4,888 single-family, 195 in 2–4 unit, 1,886 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 6,122 units (3,646 single-family, 167 in 2–4 unit, 2,309 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 5,000 units (3,689 single-family, 110 in 2–4 unit, 1,201 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 5,064 units (3,717 single-family, 126 in 2–4 unit, 1,221 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 6,249 units (3,426 single-family, 148 in 2–4 unit, 2,675 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252021 high · 6,969

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Single-family houses made up 66% of the units authorized in 2021–2025, the highest share among the 8 metro areas based in Iowa.

The wider Des Moines-West Des Moines-Ames region

The Census Bureau groups Des Moines with one neighboring metro area in the Des Moines-West Des Moines-Ames, IA combined area. Metro areas in it authorized 6,211 units a year in 2021–2025 (micropolitan parts not counted); Des Moines accounted for 95%. The other, with its yearly average: Ames (330).

Where in the metro

Polk County accounted for 67% of the metro area's units in 2021–2025, Dallas County for 23%.

  • Polk County67% (4,730 in 2025)
  • Dallas County23% (875 in 2025)
  • Warren County7.9% (465 in 2025)
  • Madison County1.5% (66 in 2025)
  • Jasper County0.7% (80 in 2025)
  • Guthrie County0.4% (33 in 2025)

Busiest permit offices

Across the metro area, 52 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was Waukee, with 5,560 units or 19% of the total, followed by Ankeny with 5,040. Among the three largest, Des Moines put 68% of its units in five-plus buildings, Ankeny 28%.

  • Waukee19% (5,560 units)
  • Ankeny17% (5,040 units)
  • Des Moines14% (4,031 units)
  • West Des Moines9.9% (2,912 units)
  • Urbandale6.9% (2,034 units)
  • Norwalk4.6% (1,347 units)
  • Altoona3.7% (1,095 units)
  • Grimes2.8% (810 units)

Share of the units authorized in the metro area, 2021–2025.

Boom, bust and since

Its peak year is shared by 27 other metro areas, among them Provo, Colorado Springs, Madison. Annual permits fell from 6,437 during the mid-2000s boom to 2,520 in 2009, a drop of 61%. The nearest bust profile in the West North Central states was Cape Girardeau's (61%). The 2021–2025 pace of 5,881 units a year is 2.4% above the 2004–2006 pace. From 2024 to 2025 the count rose 23%.

Houses or apartments

The closest match in building mix among the 386 other metro areas is Albuquerque (32% in five-plus buildings). That share has risen sharply since 2004–2006, when it stood at 18%. Units in five-plus buildings peaked in 2016 (2,891), single-family houses in 2005 (5,262).

2021–202565.9%66%2.5%31.6%32%2004–200681.0%81%1.5%17.5%17%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202565.9%66%2.5%31.6%32%2004–200681.0%81%1.5%17.5%17%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Similar in size

Metro area2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
Colorado Springs, CO5,8258.645%
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR3,1424.024%
Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT7,30410.726%
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA6,2498.032%
Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL5,4129.817%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put Des Moines beside Deltona

Every yearly figure behind the chart, split by building size: yearly-units.csv. State view: Iowa. Counting rules.