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Des Moines-Ames

Latest: 2024↓ R+4.5 vs 2020

Leans Republican — shifted 4.5pp toward Republicans in 2024 — 1.2M residents — 35 counties

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Race & ancestry
Group%
▶White (Non-Hispanic)(13)
80.8%
▶Hispanic / Latino(17)
8.0%
▶Black / African American(12)
4.0%
▶Asian(6)
3.5%
▶Middle Eastern / North African(8)
0.3%
▶Native American / Alaska Native(1)
0.3%
▶Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander(4)
0.1%
Multiracial / Other
3.4%
View full demographics →
Religious adherence
Tradition% Pop% Adherents
Mainline Protestant14.8%35.7%
Catholic12.1%29.2%
Evangelical Protestant11.3%27.2%
Other2.6%6.4%
LDS (Mormon)0.9%2.1%
Black Protestant0.6%1.3%
Orthodox Christian0.1%0.2%
Non-religious58.5%—
View full religion →
Presidential results
YearResult
2024Trump+9.9
2020Trump+5.3
2016Trump+6.7
2012Obama+4.4
2008Obama+6.8
2004Bush+2.2
2000Bush+1.2
1996Clinton+11.5
1992Clinton+6.9
View full election history →
Similarity Explorer

Similar media markets

Nearest neighbors matched on the same place-page feature set used across the dossier system.
8 visible matches
Constituent Geography

Counties in Des Moines-Ames

2024 presidential results across the counties that make up this geography.
Sort:
CountyPop.MarginDemRepTotal
Polk503K
D+10.8
140,075112,240256,838
Dallas108K
R+4.7
29,40232,37462,961
Story100K
D+10.3
26,76521,66549,526
Warren54K
R+20.6
12,71219,48632,804
Marshall40K
R+15.5
7,1349,81517,270
Jasper38K
R+27.5
7,14112,70120,198
Webster37K
R+31.1
5,64110,85016,748
Marion34K
R+37.6
5,92813,28919,566
Boone27K
R+21.4
5,8959,19915,403
Mahaska22K
R+51.4
2,5778,20710,946
Carroll21K
R+41.8
3,1537,81411,140
Poweshiek19K
R+16.9
4,0675,75810,013
Madison17K
R+38.5
3,0086,86410,028
Hardin17K
R+38.3
2,5535,7908,460
Hamilton15K
R+33.2
2,4825,0047,597
Kossuth15K
R+44.0
2,2845,9838,397
Wright13K
R+36.4
1,7703,8535,723
Appanoose12K
R+46.5
1,6864,7046,484
Union12K
R+36.1
1,8744,0446,013
Guthrie11K
R+37.8
1,9744,4466,543
Franklin10K
R+41.6
1,3933,4314,900
Calhoun10K
R+46.7
1,3283,7085,097
Clarke10K
R+41.9
1,2653,1404,479
Humboldt10K
R+49.9
1,2363,7705,083
Lucas9K
R+48.0
1,1693,4004,646
Greene9K
R+32.9
1,6033,2114,881
Decatur8K
R+46.9
9572,7113,739
Monroe8K
R+50.5
1,0023,1044,158
Adair7K
R+44.9
1,0862,9164,080
Pocahontas7K
R+53.9
7962,7273,582
Wayne7K
R+57.1
6432,4263,124
Taylor6K
R+55.7
6662,3813,081
Audubon6K
R+38.3
9702,2143,249
Ringgold5K
R+51.3
6382,0152,686
Adams4K
R+44.1
5761,5172,135
35 countiesTotal votes: 641,578
Historian Query

Ask the Historian

Explore Des Moines-Ames's political evolution with the Historian
Race & Ancestry

Who Lives Here

A race-first Census view with ancestry expansion where source coverage is strong enough to support detail.
Des Moines-AmesCensus ACS 2024Ancestry detail available
Census race profile
Major Census race and ethnicity groups shown as a share of total population.
Expand rows for ancestry detail
White (Non-Hispanic) 80.8%Hispanic 8.0%Black 4.0%Asian 3.5%Multiracial 3.4%Native American 0.3%
GroupDes Moines-AmesNational
▶White (Non-Hispanic)(13)
80.8%57.4%
▶Hispanic / Latino(17)
8.0%19.3%
▶Black / African American(12)
4.0%12.2%
▶Asian(6)
3.5%6.0%
Multiracial / Other
3.4%4.0%
▶Native American / Alaska Native(1)
0.3%0.9%
▶Middle Eastern / North African(8)
0.3%0.9%
▶Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander(4)
0.1%0.2%
Method notes

Census treats race and Hispanic/Latino origin as separate questions. Race categories other than Hispanic reflect total populations (small Hispanic overlap in Black, Asian, AIAN, NHPI). “Multiracial / Other” is derived as a non-overlapping remainder.

Click rows to expand ancestry detail. Ancestry from ACS B04006, B03001, B02020, B02016. Totals may differ from race — individuals can report multiple ancestries.

Black / African American (estimated remainder) is derived as Black population share minus reported Sub-Saharan African and West Indian ancestry. It is shown as an estimated ancestry detail, not a standalone Census ancestry category.

MENA estimated from ancestry reporting — Census does not have a separate MENA race category. Not shown in bar (overlaps with other race groups).

Religious Adherents

Population that are religious adherents:
41.5%(508.5K people)
U.S. Religion Census 2020
Browse all religions
Tradition% Pop% AdherentsUS PopUS Adherents
Mainline Protestant
14.8%35.7%——
Catholic
12.1%29.2%——
Evangelical Protestant
11.3%27.2%——
Other
2.6%6.4%——
LDS (Mormon)
0.9%2.1%——
Black Protestant
0.6%1.3%——
Orthodox Christian
0.1%0.2%——
Non-religiousPopulation
58.5%———
Click the chevron to expand denominations. Tradition and denomination rows label both share of total population and share of all religious adherents. Non-religious is shown as a share of total population only.

Who lives in the Des Moines-Ames media market? 1,225,525 residents across 35 counties.

Demographic Comparison

Demographics

Read this geography's profile in three layers: local, state (where available), and national baseline.
Des Moines-Ames vs National1.2M residents
Population & electorate

Scale, voting-age share, and this geography's footprint inside the national electorate.

Total population
Local vs state vs U.S.
1.2M
local
1.2MNational 334.9M
Share of U.S. population
Local vs state vs U.S.
0.37%
local
0.37%National 100%
Voting-age population
Local vs state vs U.S.
73.5%
local
73.5%National 75.7%
Economic profile

Income, attainment, and ownership indicators that often shape coalition structure and turnout behavior.

Median household income
Local vs state vs U.S.
$79,578
local
$79,578National $83,960
Poverty rate
Local vs state vs U.S.
10.4%
local
10.4%National 12.5%
College degree
Local vs state vs U.S.
35.8%
local
35.8%National 35.6%
Homeownership
Local vs state vs U.S.
70.2%
local
70.2%National 65.2%
Community profile

Age structure, language use, and nativity signals that explain how this geography differs from state and nation.

Median age
Local vs state vs U.S.
37.5 yrs
local
37.5 yrsNational 39.1 yrs
Age 18–29
Local vs state vs U.S.
16.9%
local
16.9%National 15.7%
Age 65+
Local vs state vs U.S.
16.6%
local
16.6%National 17.0%
Foreign born
Local vs state vs U.S.
7.3%
local
7.3%National 14.1%
Non-English at home
Local vs state vs U.S.
10.8%
local
10.8%National 22.2%
English only
Local vs state vs U.S.
89.2%
local
89.2%National 77.8%
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