1 census tracts · pop 4,062 · pop-weighted Eviction Risk Score 4.8/10
· range 4.8–4.8
South Central DSM is a one-tract neighborhood of Des Moines, IA and houses 4,062 people. Scored across those inputs it reaches 4.8/10, placing it in the Moderate tier. about half of renters here are cost-burdened at the 30% threshold, well above the Des Moines rate of 29.6%.
The main counterweight is rent-regulation exposure, at 1/10. Severe burden reaches 22%. A tenant at that level absorbs no shock: one cut shift or one repair bill converts directly into arrears. The poverty rate is 23%, which shows up in this model as reduced rent-recovery odds after a judgment.
Running cool is eviction-process difficulty, at 2.5/10. Court records for this tract carry 843 eviction filings. On the softer side is housing-court posture, at 2.5/10.
SNAP participation is 25.0% of households versus 15.2% nationally. Food insecurity affects 26.8% of adults, 9.0 points above the national rate. At $962 a month, rents sit 12% under what the rest of Des Moines commands.
The worst year on record was 2015, when filings touched 22.8% of renter households. That places it #1 of 44 neighborhoods in Des Moines.
One tract means one number: 4.8/10 applies directly to any address inside the boundary. Scores move when the ACS release, the court-record feed, or the statute ledger behind them moves.
Risk score
4.8
Moderate
1 tracts · population-weighted
South Central DSM vs Des MoinesHow this neighborhood stacks against the citywide average
Single-parent HH, disability, language barriers, age 17- / 65+
Racial/ethnic minority61%ile
Hispanic + non-white share of population
Housing & transport96%ile
Multi-unit structures, mobile homes, crowding, no vehicle
Eviction filings · Princeton Eviction Lab
Court-record eviction history in South Central DSM
Aggregated across 1 validated constituent tract. Filing rate is filings per 100 renter households, pop-weighted.
Historic baseline (2000–2018)
843Total filings (sum)
18.79%Avg annual filing rate
22.8%Peak year (2015)
22.79%Latest filed (2015)
CDC PLACES 2023 · pop-weighted
Eviction-adjacent indicators in South Central DSM
Average across all constituent tracts, population-weighted. Source: CDC PLACES (cwsq-ngmh) crude prevalence.
18.8%Housing insecurity
12.7%Utility shutoff threat
26.8%Food insecurity
25.0%SNAP enrollment
13.7%No health insurance
36.1%Any disability
Frequently asked
About South Central DSM
Q1
What is the eviction-risk score for South Central DSM?
South Central DSM scores 4.8/10 (Moderate tier) across 1 census tracts. The pop-weighted Eviction Risk Score blends state law, county filing rates, parent-city politics, and tract-specific rent-to-income and poverty signals.
Q2
How does South Central DSM compare to Des Moines overall?
South Central DSM scores 1.4 points higher than Des Moines overall (3.4/10). Renters spend 48% of income on rent vs 30% citywide. Average rent: $962 vs $1,090.
Q3
What is the average rent in South Central DSM?
Average gross rent in South Central DSM is $962/month (pop-weighted across 1 census tracts, ACS 5-year 2023). 48% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Q4
What percentage of South Central DSM residents are renters?
47% of South Central DSM households are renter-occupied (vs 40% in Des Moines). The neighborhood has 4,062 residents.
Q5
Is South Central DSM a high social-vulnerability area?
South Central DSM sits in the 84th percentile nationally on the CDC Social Vulnerability Index (highly vulnerable). The index combines poverty, unemployment, household composition, racial/ethnic minority share, and housing/transportation factors across all US census tracts.
Q6
How safe is South Central DSM for landlords?
South Central DSM carries a moderate-tier eviction-risk profile for landlords (4.8/10). Pop-weighted across 1 constituent tracts, the score blends parent-city rent-control posture, county eviction-process timelines, and tract-specific rent-to-income / poverty signals. Compared to Des Moines as a whole (3.4/10), this neighborhood is higher-risk.
Q7
What is the demographic breakdown of South Central DSM?
South Central DSM has 3,679 residents. Top groups: White (non-Hispanic) (59.9%), Hispanic / Latino (24.6%), Black (non-Hispanic) (7%). Source: ACS 5-year 2023, table B03002.
