Search anyone in Des Moines.
Des Moines is home to 213,096 people. Find the one you're looking for with a public-records search by name.
First and last name.
Des Moines is shown at the centre of the Des Moines metro area. Records can still cross city and county lines, so location needs another independent anchor.
City and metro context
The Des Moines metro area
The Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area holds 720K people — 22.5% of Iowa. A name common here is usually common in the other metros too, so the report shows which one each record came from before anything is linked to one person.
- Cedar Rapids276K · 8.6% of the state
- Iowa City177K · 5.6% of the state
- Davenport174K · 5.5% of the state
- Waterloo168K · 5.3% of the state
Use the metro list as location context, not as proof of residence: a matching city still needs another independent anchor before records belong together.
Population figures are American Community Survey five-year estimates for the part of each metro area inside Iowa.
They describe the region, not a count of records or people held by Recordwell.
What a Des Moines search can establish
Local record-keeping decides what is available. The report names the record behind every line, so you can check each result yourself.
Address history
Which Des Moines-area addresses a person is associated with, and roughly when.
Professional licences
Whether an Iowa licence exists, its status and the employer named on it.
Business roles
Registrations and officer roles filed in Iowa under the same name.
Court references
Whether public dockets name the person, without interpreting what a case means.
Digital footprint
Public profiles and usernames that agree with the Des Moines anchors.
Web and news mentions
Articles, directories and event listings that place the person locally.
Three people, one name
An illustrative Des Moines search returns these candidates separately because the fields around the name disagree.
Alex Morgan strong match
Des Moines · professional record and dated address agree
A. Morgan different person
Another Iowa city · the location and age range do not overlap
Alexa Morgan different person
The first name differs and no second anchor matched
Illustrative candidates show the matching rule, not a real search result. One matching field is never enough to link records.
Narrowing a common name in Des Moines
Add the neighbourhood, not just the city
An address narrows a common name faster than “Des Moines” alone.
Use the employer if you know it
Licence records and news mentions often carry an employer, which makes a strong second field.
Try the county, not only the city line
Someone who moved nearby may hold records in two counties; the report keeps the locality visible.
Start with the full name, not initials
A first and last name spelled out matches record indexes far more often than an initial does.
Around Des Moines
People move across the metro without their records following in one step. These localities are searched alongside Des Moines.
Browse surnames in Des Moines
More surnames
Des Moines facts and independent reference paths
The U.S. Census Bureau estimates Des Moines's population at 213,096 as of July 2024 — the #113 largest city in the country, down about 0.5% since the 2020 count of 214,133. The city is located in Polk and Warren counties, Iowa. Recordwell checks available information and open public web pages to build a complete picture of anyone here.
If the name you're searching is common, adding "Des Moines" or an age separates candidates fast. People move within the metro, so also try Cedar Rapids — or go straight to the Iowa people search.
Quick facts: Des Moines, Iowa
| Population (July 2024 est.) | 213,096 |
| 2020 census | 214,133 |
| Change 2020–2024 | −0.5% |
| Land area | 88.2 sq mi |
| Population density | 2,428 / sq mi |
| County | Polk and Warren counties |
| U.S. population rank | #113 |
record: U.S. Census Bureau — 2024 population estimates, 2020 decennial census (land area & density).
Common questions
Can I narrow a search to Des Moines specifically?
Yes — include the city with the name (e.g., “Jane Miller Des Moines”) to separate candidates from elsewhere in Iowa.
How many people live in Des Moines, IA?
The U.S. Census Bureau estimates 213,096 residents as of July 2024, down from 214,133 at the 2020 census.
How do I find someone in Des Moines for free?
Enter their full name above and confirm your email. A full report needs a plan; checking yourself and removing your own data stay free. Add an age or neighborhood if the name is common.
Is it legal to search for people in Des Moines?
Yes — public records are open by law, and looking someone up for personal reasons is legal everywhere in the U.S. Recordwell is not a consumer reporting agency (FCRA): results can't be used for employment, housing, or credit decisions.
Which Iowa records can anyone access?
In Iowa, most court dockets, property deeds, business filings, professional licenses, and campaign-finance reports are public records. Polk County holds most records covering Des Moines.
Search a Des Moines name
Start with the name; add a neighbourhood or an employer on the candidate step.
Recordwell is not a Consumer Reporting Agency. Reports may not be used for employment, tenancy, credit, insurance or any other FCRA-covered decision.