Where Are People Moving in Des Moines, IA?
IRS county-to-county migration, 2023 tax year (released about two years after the tax year it covers).
People moving in
329
People moving out
347
Net migration
-18
Des Moines, IA is a net loser of residents. In the latest IRS data (2023 tax year), 329 people moved in and 347 moved out, for a net loss of -18. Net outflows can soften local rent and price growth over time, though the cause matters as much as the number.
Migration is most useful read alongside the rest of the market. People move for jobs, affordability, climate, and lifestyle, and where they come from and go to says a lot about what a county is competing on. Below are the specific counties driving Des Moines, IA’s flows in each direction.
Top counties people moved to Des Moines, IA from
| Origin county | Returns | People |
|---|---|---|
| Lee, IAIowa | 87 | 148 |
| Henry, IAIowa | 76 | 138 |
| Henderson, ILIllinois | 47 | 77 |
| Cook, ILIllinois | 33 | 68 |
| Louisa, IAIowa | 33 | 58 |
| Scott, IAIowa | 28 | 44 |
| Johnson, IAIowa | 25 | 37 |
Top counties people left Des Moines, IA for
| Destination county | Returns | People |
|---|---|---|
| Lee, IAIowa | 84 | 159 |
| Henry, IAIowa | 60 | 114 |
| Johnson, IAIowa | 46 | 78 |
| Henderson, ILIllinois | 33 | 63 |
| Linn, IAIowa | 31 | 52 |
| Polk, IAIowa | 28 | 44 |
| Cook, ILIllinois | 23 | 33 |
| Scott, IAIowa | 22 | 28 |
| Louisa, IAIowa | 20 | 45 |
“Returns” counts tax returns (a household proxy) that moved along each flow; “People” counts the individuals on those returns, when reported. IRS aggregate and foreign pseudo-rows are excluded. Informational only, not financial advice.
Frequently asked questions
Are people moving to Des Moines, IA or leaving?
Des Moines, IA had a net loss of -18 residents in the latest IRS data (2023 tax year), with 329 people moving in and 347 moving out. Net migration is inflow minus outflow.
Where are people moving to Des Moines, IA from?
The largest sources of new Des Moines, IA residents are Lee, IA, Henry, IA, Henderson, IL. The full top-ten list of origin counties is in the table above.
Where do people leaving Des Moines, IA go?
People leaving Des Moines, IA most often move to Lee, IA, Henry, IA, Johnson, IA. The full top-ten list of destination counties is in the table above.
What does Des Moines, IA migration mean for housing?
Migration is a leading demand signal. Sustained net inflows tend to support rents and home prices when supply cannot keep up, while net outflows can soften them. Read this alongside Des Moines, IA's price forecast, building permits, and affordability on the full county dashboard before drawing a conclusion.
How current is this Des Moines, IA migration data?
It comes from IRS Statistics of Income county-to-county migration data, which is released about two years after the tax year it covers; the figures above reflect the 2023 tax year. That lag is normal for this dataset, which counts actual tax returns rather than survey estimates.