1 census tracts · pop 4,570 · pop-weighted Eviction Risk Score 2.9/10
· range 2.9–2.9
Watrous Heights is a white (non-hispanic) neighborhood in Des Moines with 1 census tract and a population of 4,570 residents. The neighborhood's pop-weighted eviction-risk score of 2.9/10 (Lower tier) blends state law, county-level filing rates, parent-city politics, and tract-specific rent-to-income ratios + poverty. 31% of renters here pay at least 30% of household income on rent, and 23% are severely cost-burdened (≥50% of income). Average gross rent of $1,381/month sits 27% higher than the Des Moines citywide average ($1,090).
Risk score
2.9
Lower
1 tracts · population-weighted
Watrous Heights vs Des MoinesHow this neighborhood stacks against the citywide average
Single-parent HH, disability, language barriers, age 17- / 65+
Racial/ethnic minority30%ile
Hispanic + non-white share of population
Housing & transport35%ile
Multi-unit structures, mobile homes, crowding, no vehicle
Eviction filings · Princeton Eviction Lab
Court-record eviction history in Watrous Heights
Aggregated across 1 validated constituent tract. Filing rate is filings per 100 renter households, pop-weighted.
Historic baseline (2000–2018)
528Total filings (sum)
11.38%Avg annual filing rate
15.7%Peak year (2007)
11.80%Latest filed (2015)
CDC PLACES 2023 · pop-weighted
Eviction-adjacent indicators in Watrous Heights
Average across all constituent tracts, population-weighted. Source: CDC PLACES (cwsq-ngmh) crude prevalence.
11.2%Housing insecurity
6.7%Utility shutoff threat
13.0%Food insecurity
9.6%SNAP enrollment
8.8%No health insurance
26.7%Any disability
Frequently asked
About Watrous Heights
Q1
What is the eviction-risk score for Watrous Heights?
Watrous Heights scores 2.9/10 (Lower 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 Watrous Heights compare to Des Moines overall?
Watrous Heights scores 0.3 points higher than Des Moines overall (2.6/10). Renters spend 31% of income on rent vs 30% citywide. Average rent: $1,381 vs $1,090.
Q3
What is the average rent in Watrous Heights?
Average gross rent in Watrous Heights is $1,381/month (pop-weighted across 1 census tracts, ACS 5-year 2023). 31% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Q4
What percentage of Watrous Heights residents are renters?
13% of Watrous Heights households are renter-occupied (vs 40% in Des Moines). The neighborhood has 4,570 residents.
Q5
Is Watrous Heights a high social-vulnerability area?
Watrous Heights sits in the 30th percentile nationally on the CDC Social Vulnerability Index (less 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 Watrous Heights for landlords?
Watrous Heights carries a lower-tier eviction-risk profile for landlords (2.9/10). 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 in line with the citywide level.
Q7
What is the demographic breakdown of Watrous Heights?
Watrous Heights has 4,491 residents (White (non-Hispanic) Neighborhood). Top groups: White (non-Hispanic) (80.6%), Hispanic / Latino (11.4%), Other / Multiracial (6.8%). Source: ACS 5-year 2023, table B03002.
