City · Iowa
Urbandale, Iowa
Urbandale, city, mostly in Polk County (74.2% of its 2020 residents), with a part in Dallas County, Iowa. Urbandale had 48,570 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 6.6% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 45,580 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 46,595 (±58). GEOID 1979950.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
48,570
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 45,580 · ACS 2020-2024: 46,595 ±58
Median household income
$112,795
±$8,668 (90% margin)
Iowa: $75,059
Median home value
$335,500
±$10,820 (90% margin)
Iowa: $208,000
Median gross rent
$1,211
±$55 (90% margin)
Iowa: $972
Where is Urbandale and what county is it in?
Urbandale is a city mostly in Polk County (74.2% of its 2020 residents), with a part in Dallas County, Iowa. It covers 22.5 square miles of land, 2,022 residents per square mile in 2020.
Urbandale is in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 6 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
| County | 2020 residents | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Polk County | 33,804 | 74.2% |
| Dallas County | 11,776 | 25.8% |
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Urbandale, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 48,570 people lived in Urbandale on July 1, 2025, up 6.6% since 2020, faster than Iowa (+1.5%). The 2020 Census counted 45,580 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 46,595 (±58).
| Measure | Urbandale | Polk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 46,595 ±58 | 503,175 | +3,154 |
| Households | 17,547 ±492 | 205,358 | +814 |
| Average household size | 2.64 ±0.07 | 2.41 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 18,490 ±484 | 218,486 | +1,246 |
Urbandale's population since 2000
From 29,072 in 2000 to 48,570 in 2025: up 67.1%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Urbandale as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Urbandale?
The median resident of Urbandale is 39.2 years old; 25.3% are under 18 and 14.8% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 79.4%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 7.2%. 9.8% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Urbandale | Polk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.2 ±1.0 | 36.2 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 25.3% ±1.5 pts | 24.4% | – |
| 65 years and over | 14.8% ±1.3 pts | 14.0% | – |
| Male | 50.7% ±1.4 pts | 49.8% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 7.2% ±1.7 pts | 10.4% | +3.5 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 79.4% ±2.5 pts | 73.2% | −6.6 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 4.8% ±1.5 pts | 7.3% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 4.9% ±1.6 pts | 4.9% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.3% ±0.9 pts | 3.8% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.3 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 9.8% ±1.9 pts | 10.1% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 13.0% ±2.2 pts | 14.7% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.5% ±1.1 pts | 5.6% | – |
| With a disability | 7.9% ±1.1 pts | 11.4% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 4.7% ±1.3 pts | 5.3% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 93.9% ±1.4 pts | 92.5% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 51.2% ±2.8 pts | 40.3% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 18.0% ±2.1 pts | 13.1% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 87.2% ±2.1 pts | 85.7% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.1% ±0.8 pts | 2.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Urbandale earn?
Half of Urbandale's 17,547 households earn less than $112,795 a year (±$8,668), against $83,576 in Polk County and $75,059 in Iowa. In 2015-2019 it was $111,818 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 6.8% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Urbandale | Polk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $112,795 ±$8,668 | $83,576 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $143,465 ±$6,300 | $109,398 | – |
| Per capita income | $54,506 ±$2,516 | $45,622 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 6.8% ±1.8 pts | 10.3% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 8.6% ±3.2 pts | 14.0% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 4.6% ±1.3 pts | 9.8% | – |
| Households with a computer | 97.5% ±0.9 pts | 96.9% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 94.3% ±1.6 pts | 91.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Urbandale?
Owners occupy 78.1% of Urbandale's occupied homes and renters 21.9%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $335,500 by its owner (±$10,820). The median renter pays $1,211 a month including utilities, and 30.4% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Urbandale | Polk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $335,500 ±$10,820 | $262,100 | +$43,210 |
| Median gross rent | $1,211 ±$55 | $1,149 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 30.4% ±7.0 pts | 35.5% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,069 ±$82 | $1,741 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 78.1% ±2.5 pts | 67.4% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 21.9% ±2.5 pts | 32.6% | – |
| Housing units | 18,490 ±484 | 218,486 | +1,246 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.5% ±0.4 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 7.9% ±3.3 pts | 5.5% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 69.0% ±2.1 pts | 62.7% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.4% ±0.3 pts | 2.0% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 2.9% ±0.9 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 13.7% ±2.0 pts | 13.9% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 1.6% ±0.5 pts | 14.2% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 2.8% ±1.0 pts | 5.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Urbandale building?
Builders took permits for 646 new housing units in Urbandale in 2025 (431 in single-family houses), 13.3 per 1,000 residents against 4.2 across Iowa.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Urbandale work and get to work?
71.0% of Urbandale's workers drive alone and 17.9% work from home. The average trip to work takes 18.9 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 2.9%.
| Measure | Urbandale | Polk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 70.7% ±2.2 pts | 71.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 2.9% ±1.1 pts | 4.4% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 71.0% ±2.7 pts | 72.4% | – |
| Carpooled | 7.8% ±2.0 pts | 8.4% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.5% ±0.5 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Walked | 0.7% ±0.3 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Worked from home | 17.9% ±2.2 pts | 15.7% | +12.2 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 18.9 min ±0.9 | 20.0 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Urbandale?
8 census tracts lie mostly in Urbandale, and 6 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $74,219 (Tract 104.11) to $161,295 (Tract 113.04).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 508.03Dallas County | 14,390 | $132,215 |
| Tract 113.04Polk County | 5,088 | $161,295 |
| Tract 104.11Polk County | 4,948 | $74,219 |
| Tract 104.04Polk County | 4,499 | $93,996 |
| Tract 104.07Polk County | 4,366 | $146,100 |
| Tract 104.08Polk County | 4,321 | $81,348 |
| Tract 104.09Polk County | 4,033 | $97,604 |
| Tract 104.06Polk County | 3,775 | $81,406 |
| Tract 508.05Dallas County | 6,144 | $169,722 |
| Tract 104.10Polk County | 2,613 | $112,000 |
| Tract 501Dallas County | 8,233 | $149,056 |
| Tract 117.04Polk County | 2,960 | $154,928 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Urbandale) · Census block assignment files
How does Urbandale compare with other places in Iowa?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Urbandale is the 850th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 12th-most populous of 939 in Iowa.
Urbandale ranks 22nd of 279 places in Iowa with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 12th | 939 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 33rd | 275 |
| Residents per square mile | 15th | 279 |
| Median household income | 22nd | 279 |
| Per capita income | 16th | 279 |
| Median home value | 14th | 279 |
| Median gross rent | 21st | 266 |
| Poverty rate | 182nd | 232 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19th | 279 |
| Median age | 154th | 279 |
| Owner-occupied share | 97th | 279 |
| Work from home | 22nd | 221 |
| Travel time to work | 168th | 279 |
Urbandale's figures with every place in Iowa (CSV)
Every place in Iowa, sortable · Compare Urbandale with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Urbandale?
6 of the 57 figures for Urbandale on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Urbandale are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Urbandale.