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Des Moines, WA

City in King County, Washington. ZIP codes: 98148, 98198.

Population

32,823

Land area

6.4sq mi

People per sq mi

5,118

ZIP codes

2

Des Moines and its ZIP codes

Full map

Des Moines at a glance

  • Des Moines is about 44 times as dense as Washington as a whole.
  • By population, it ranks 42nd among 628 cities and towns in Washington.
  • The median household income is $92,483, 6% below the Washington median of $98,141.
  • A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $597,000 (6% above Washington) and median rent is $1,799 a month.

Local data for Des Moines, WA

Counts from official public data

Housing and community stats

Des Moines, WA, American Community Survey 2020-2024

Full profile

Median household income

$92,483

Poverty rate

12.1%

Median home value

$597,000

Median rent

$1,799/mo

Homeownership

60.6%

Bachelor's or higher

33.4%

Median age

38.0

Average commute

30.8 min

Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (4,002), Mexican Americans (3,847), Irish Americans (2,261).

Home values and rentsIncome, education and commute

Economy and federal money

Jobs, pay, income and spending are for King County. PPP loans are for Des Moines.

Details

Unemployment rate

4.8%

Sep 2026, 0.0 pts in a year

Average annual pay

$136,848

1,436,484 jobs, 2025

Income per person

$128,684

BEA, 2024

Federal spending

$24.6B

FY 2026, $10,843 per person

PPP loans

$42.5M

991 loans, 5,466 jobs reported

King County economyFederal spendingPPP loans

How people get to work

Des Moines, WA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates

  • Drove alone68.3%
  • Carpooled9.5%
  • Public transit4.6%
  • Walked2.3%
  • Bicycle0.2%
  • Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.3%
  • Worked from home14.7%

Average one-way commute: 30.8 minutes for people who do not work from home.

Environment and hazard risk

Des Moines, WA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA

Full report

Natural hazard risk

Very High

Top: earthquake

Storm events since 1996

75

Countywide, mostly lightning

Flood insurance policies

4,529

0.8% of homes, county

July high / Jan low

78° / 36°F

40.1 inches of rain a year

Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone

Health statistics

Share of adults in Des Moines, WA, CDC PLACES estimates

All 40 measures

Obesity

26.6%

U.S. 33.3% -6.7 pts

Diabetes

9.5%

U.S. 12.1% -2.6 pts

Smoking

10.1%

U.S. 12.8% -2.7 pts

Uninsured (18-64)

10.6%

U.S. 11.1% -0.5 pts

ZIP codes in Des Moines

2 in or overlapping Des Moines. Population shown

·

Cities near Des Moines

NameDistanceLand area (sq mi)
Normandy ParkCity3.3 mi2.5
Lakeland NorthCensus-designated place3.7 mi3.2
SeaTacCity4 mi10.1
KentCity4.2 mi33.8
Federal WayCity5.4 mi22.3
BurienCity6 mi10
TukwilaCity6.5 mi9.2
Dash PointCensus-designated place6.8 mi0.6
Lakeland SouthCensus-designated place7.1 mi4.9
AuburnCity7.4 mi29.6
AlgonaCity7.6 mi1.3
VashonCensus-designated place8 mi37
Browns PointCensus-designated place8.1 mi0.4
Bryn Mawr-SkywayCensus-designated place8.2 mi2.9
RentonCity8.7 mi23.5
White CenterCensus-designated place8.7 mi2.3

Frequently asked questions

What county is Des Moines, WA in?
Des Moines is in King County, Washington.
What ZIP codes are in Des Moines, WA?
ZIP codes in or overlapping Des Moines include 98148, 98198.
What is the population of Des Moines, WA?
About 32,823 people live in Des Moines, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
What cities are near Des Moines?
Nearby places include Normandy Park (3.3 mi), Lakeland North (3.7 mi), SeaTac (4 mi), Kent (4.2 mi), Federal Way (5.4 mi).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023

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