West Des Moines, IA: Marketing for Dental & Medical Practices
Public data on West Des Moines, and what we would do first for a practice there because of it.
West Des Moines at a glance
Furthest from the US: share of residents who speak Spanish at home (4.2% against 13.6%), then share with a bachelor's degree or higher (54.9% against 35.7%).
- Residents, July 2025 estimate74,224Up 8.0% from the April 2020 base of 68,727
- Median household income$86,594Above both Iowa ($75,059) and the US ($80,734)
- Median age36.0Below both Iowa (38.6) and the US (38.9)
- Residents 65 and older15.1%Below both Iowa (18.1%) and the US (17.2%)
- Bachelor's degree or higher (residents 25+)54.9%Well above both Iowa (31.4%) and the US (35.7%)
- Speak Spanish at home (residents 5+)4.2%Below Iowa (4.7%), well below the US (13.6%)
The share who speak Spanish at home is where West Des Moines and Des Moines (9 miles apart) differ most: 4.2% against 11.5%, then the share with a bachelor's degree or higher (54.9% against 29.7%).
Local healthcare landscape in West Des Moines
MercyOne West Des Moines Medical Center lists its address as 1755 59th Place and lists Emergency Care, a Level IV Trauma Center, Heart and Vascular Care, Maternity Care and a Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The city's employer list names Methodist Hospital West under Life Sciences/Hospital. The city adopted the Historic West Des Moines Master Plan on September 19, 2016, and says the plan guides the growth and reinvestment in the Valley Junction area. Its housing page refers to the Historic West Des Moines neighborhood and a Historic West Des Moines area map. The Development Services Department maintains Connect2Create, the City's Comprehensive Plan, which the City Council adopted on November 21, 2022, and whose focus includes community design, housing, and neighborhoods.
Neighborhoods and areas
- Valley Junction
- Historic West Des Moines
Sources for this section
Who practices in West Des Moines
NPI-registered providers with a practice address in West Des Moines, by primary specialty (people, not offices). Per resident, West Des Moines is furthest above the US among plastic surgeons (9.5 times the US rate) and lowest among dermatologists (1.4 times).
| Specialty | In West Des Moines | Residents per provider | US | Against the US |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dentists | 104 | 1 per 714 | 1 per 1,340 | Well above |
| Chiropractors | 73 | 1 per 1,017 | 1 per 3,311 | Well above |
| Dermatologists | 6 | 1 per 12,371 | 1 per 17,857 | Well above |
| Physical therapists | 154 | 1 per 482 | 1 per 1,181 | Well above |
| Optometrists | 30 | 1 per 2,474 | 1 per 5,291 | Well above |
| Podiatrists | 13 | 1 per 5,710 | 1 per 14,706 | Well above |
| Plastic surgeons | 12 | 1 per 6,185 | 1 per 58,824 | Well above |
Private-sector health care employers in Polk County, 2024
2024 annual averages for the whole county. Offices of other health practitioners are 39.3% of them, well above the US share of 27.8%.
- Ambulatory health care establishments1,182Average employment 14,091
- Offices of physicians291
- Offices of dentists194
- Offices of other health practitioners464
What we'd prioritize for a West Des Moines practice
Chosen by fixed rules from the figures above.
A crowded field for plastic surgeons
9.5 times the US number of NPI-registered plastic surgeons per resident (one per 6,185 residents). A plastic surgeon here needs a clear focus and real reviews: see our marketing for plastic surgeons.
Reviews and your Google Business Profile first
One NPI-registered dentist per 714 residents in West Des Moines (US: one per 1,340). We would start with the Google Business Profile and review management.
Be easy to find for people who just moved here
West Des Moines grew by 5,497 residents (+8.0%) between April 2020 and July 2025. With that many new residents, we would start with maps and directory listings.
Service pages that answer the questions
54.9% of West Des Moines residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.7% for the US. Detailed treatment pages come first, and the SEO work builds on them.
Location pages near West Des Moines
Talk to Us About Your West Des Moines Practice
- No Long-Term Contracts
- HIPAA-Compliant
- 4–6 Week Delivery
Sources
- Census Bureau population estimates, July 1, 2025 estimates; April 1, 2020 estimates base
- Census Gazetteer files, 2025
- American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024 5-year
- CMS NPI Registry, live registry as of 2026-11-01
- Census ZIP code relationship files, 2020
- 2020 Census block populations, April 1, 2020
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (private sector), 2024 annual averages
Provider counts use each NPI record’s practice ZIP code, split between places by where the ZIP’s 2020 census residents live.
Medi-Edge Marketing is a medical marketing agency in Vista, California, working remotely with practices across the United States. See every location page or our services.