Grimes, IA

This city of 18,409 residents needs 3,283 more housing units over the next five years. Grimes is part of the Des Moines Area MPO.

Housing snapshot

Population
18,409 (2026)
Households
6,555
Median household income
$131,155 (2026)
Typical home value
$346,468
Owner-occupied
70%
Five-year housing need
3,283 units

Comparison to other Iowa municipalities

Grimes: $131,155 Median income (2026 estimate)
<$38K >$135K
Grimes: 1.39 jobs to household ratio
<0.15 >2.25
Grimes: Permits since 2021 represent 13.0% of housing
<0.1% >12.1%
On this page

How affordable is this community?

The typical home in Grimes, IA is valued at $346,468, well above the Iowa average of $204,515. Grimes, IA's median household income of $131,155 comfortably exceeds what is needed to afford the typical home, making this a relatively affordable market.

This chart tracks whether housing prices are keeping pace with local incomes. The gap between what homes cost and what households can afford reveals affordability trends over time.

How is the population changing?

Grimes, IA has a population of roughly 16,366 and is one of the faster-growing communities in its state, adding residents at 5.0% per year.

Population growth patterns reveal how communities are evolving. This chart shows historical population changes by age group and projects future trends based on demographic patterns.

How has employment changed over time?

Jobs by industry sector since 2012. Switch between local jobs — counted where the jobs are located — and resident jobs, counted where the workers live. On the local view the most recent year is a nowcast: it grows the latest local LODES job mix forward using recent county employment growth from QCEW and the BLS local employment series, so the newest point tracks today's economy instead of data that is roughly two years old.

How are households changing by income?

Grimes, IA is one of the faster-growing communities in Iowa, adding households at 5.0% per year and totaling roughly 6,555 households.

Understanding how households at different income levels are growing or declining helps identify which groups face the greatest housing pressure and where new housing is most needed.

Who lives here today?

In Grimes, IA, detached single-family accounts for 64% of the housing stock. Homeownership is the norm in Grimes, IA, with 70% of units owner-occupied.

Households may have different structure type preferences depending on characteristics such as household size, income, employment, presence of children, age of individuals, and lifestyle choices. Understanding the housing stock in corresponding terms helps assess how well existing units align with existing households' ideals.

What does the housing stock look like?

The mix of housing types and ownership patterns shapes a community's character. This chart breaks down housing units by structure type and whether they're owner-occupied or rented.

How much new housing supply is needed?

To keep up with growth and fill current housing shortages, Grimes, IA needs 3,283 new units over the next 5 years.

3,103
Units needed to keep up with expected growth
Projected total household growth from 2026 to 2031.
47.3%
Projected household growth rate
Expected increase in total households from 6,555 in 2026 to 9,658 in 2031.
180
Units to address shortages in existing housing stock
Production needs to address vacancy rates and other factors.
32
Replacement housing
Effective annual loss rate is 1.0 per 1,000 units.
36
Ownership vacancy adjustment
Owner-occupied vacancy is 0.7%. This is below the minimum stable target of 1.5%.
112
Rental vacancy adjustment
Rental vacancy is 1.7%. This is below the minimum stable target of 7.4%.
3,283
Total 5-year housing production need (2026-2031)
657
Annual production pace
Average units needed per year to meet 5-year need
52.7%
Total housing unit growth
Percent increase in housing stock over 5 years
10.5%
Annual housing unit growth
Average percent increase in housing stock per year

How does this place compare to similar communities?