Neighborhood · Des Moines, IA

Union Park Eviction Risk: Moderate

1 census tracts · pop 2,930 · pop-weighted Eviction Risk Score 4.4/10 · range 4.4–4.4

Union Park is a white (non-hispanic) neighborhood in Des Moines with 1 census tract and a population of 2,930 residents. The neighborhood's pop-weighted eviction-risk score of 4.4/10 (Moderate tier) blends state law, county-level filing rates, parent-city politics, and tract-specific rent-to-income ratios + poverty. 39% of renters here pay at least 30% of household income on rent, and 16% are severely cost-burdened (≥50% of income). Average gross rent of $1,196/month sits 10% higher than the Des Moines citywide average ($1,090).

Risk score

4.4

Moderate

1 tracts · population-weighted

Union Park vs Des Moines How this neighborhood stacks against the citywide average

% of income on rent

38.5% +30%

Des Moines: 29.6%

Average gross rent

$1,196 +10%

Des Moines: $1,090

Average HH income

$64,263 +0%

Des Moines: $63,966

Poverty rate

18.8% +26%

Des Moines: 14.9%

Renter share

20.3% -49%

Des Moines: 39.5%

Peer neighborhoods

Neighborhoods with similar eviction risk

Same county, closest by Eviction Risk Score.

Geographic context

Risk heat across Union Park and the region

Click any tract to drill in · 1 tracts span score 4.4–4.4

Why Union Park scores 4.4

9 axes · pop-weighted · 1 = landlord-friendly

State political climate

legislature & governorship · Range 2.3–2.3 across tracts

2.3

Regional political climate

County-level mix · 2024 presidential margin · Range 5.8–5.8 across tracts

5.8

Local political climate

Parent city governance · Range 4.5–4.5 across tracts

4.5

Rent control risk

39% of income on rent · Range 1.0–1.0 across tracts

1.0

Eviction process difficulty

State notice requirements & court backlog · Range 2.5–2.5 across tracts

2.5

Tenant organizing strength

20% renter households · Range 3.0–3.0 across tracts

3.0

Housing court bias

County bench composition · Range 2.5–2.5 across tracts

2.5

Economic stress

18.8% below poverty line · Range 4.7–4.7 across tracts

4.7

Supply constraint

Rent-to-FMR gap & zoning friction · Range 4.8–4.8 across tracts

4.8

Risk score comparison

Union Park vs. parent city, state, U.S.

Eviction Risk Score (0–10 scale).

Census tracts

1 tracts in Union Park

Ranked highest-risk first. Click for per-tract detail.

Tract↕	Score↕	Pop↕	% over 30% on rent↕	Average rent↕
19153001500	4.4	2,930	38%	$1,196

Social Vulnerability Index

CDC SVI percentile: 72

Pop-weighted across 1 tracts. Higher = more vulnerable to disaster, displacement, and rent shocks. Source: CDC/ATSDR SVI 2022.

Socioeconomic status 77%ile

Poverty, unemployment, no-HS-diploma, housing cost burden

Household characteristics 76%ile

Single-parent HH, disability, language barriers, age 17- / 65+

Racial/ethnic minority 55%ile

Hispanic + non-white share of population

Housing & transport 47%ile

Multi-unit structures, mobile homes, crowding, no vehicle

Eviction filings · Princeton Eviction Lab

Court-record eviction history in Union Park

Aggregated across 1 validated constituent tract. Filing rate is filings per 100 renter households, pop-weighted.

Historic baseline (2000–2018)

176Total filings (sum)
9.93%Avg annual filing rate
10.8%Peak year (2011)
8.92%Latest filed (2015)

CDC PLACES 2023 · pop-weighted

Eviction-adjacent indicators in Union Park

Average across all constituent tracts, population-weighted. Source: CDC PLACES (cwsq-ngmh) crude prevalence.

17.8%Housing insecurity
12.0%Utility shutoff threat
24.8%Food insecurity
22.7%SNAP enrollment
13.6%No health insurance
35.4%Any disability

Frequently asked

About Union Park

What is the eviction-risk score for Union Park?

Union Park scores 4.4/10 (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.

How does Union Park compare to Des Moines overall?

Union Park scores 1.8 points higher than Des Moines overall (2.6/10). Renters spend 39% of income on rent vs 30% citywide. Average rent: $1,196 vs $1,090.

What is the average rent in Union Park?

Average gross rent in Union Park is $1,196/month (pop-weighted across 1 census tracts, ACS 5-year 2023). 39% of renter households are cost-burdened.

What percentage of Union Park residents are renters?

20% of Union Park households are renter-occupied (vs 40% in Des Moines). The neighborhood has 2,930 residents.

Is Union Park a high social-vulnerability area?

Union Park sits in the 72nd percentile nationally on the CDC Social Vulnerability Index (moderately vulnerable). The index combines poverty, unemployment, household composition, racial/ethnic minority share, and housing/transportation factors across all US census tracts.

How safe is Union Park for landlords?

Union Park carries a moderate-tier eviction-risk profile for landlords (4.4/10). 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 (2.6/10), this neighborhood is higher-risk.

What is the demographic breakdown of Union Park?

Union Park has 2,913 residents (White (non-Hispanic) Neighborhood). Top groups: White (non-Hispanic) (60.1%), Hispanic / Latino (15.8%), Black (non-Hispanic) (12.3%). Source: ACS 5-year 2023, table B03002.

Nearby

Other neighborhoods near Union Park

4.2 Highland Park 2 tracts · pop 9,488 4.2 Fairmont Park 2 tracts · pop 5,523 3.7 Accent 3 tracts · pop 8,879 4.2 Drake 2 tracts · pop 8,362 3.1 Beaverdale 2 tracts · pop 6,191 3.4 Lower Beaver 2 tracts · pop 6,931

Sibling neighborhoods

Other neighborhoods inside Des Moines

Same parent city, ranked by score similarity to Union Park.

4.4 Indianola Hills 1 tracts · pop 4,028 4.4 Garton West 1 tracts · pop 4,766 4.5 Oak Park 1 tracts · pop 3,728 4.3 Watrous South 3 tracts · pop 10,727 4.3 Linden Heights 1 tracts · pop 4,093 4.3 Fairground 1 tracts · pop 4,402

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