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Grimes: Demographics & People

16,366 people call Grimes home, in 6,117 households. Population grew 3.5% from 15,810 (2022) to 16,366 (2024). Median age 35.4 years. (0.8y younger than Polk County; 1.9y younger than Iowa). Children under 18 are 28% of the population. Population is 82% White (non-Hispanic) and 6% Black. The community is somewhat diverse (Simpson index 0.23). 67% of households are family-led. County is gaining 5,143 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 32% adult obesity, 11% smoke.

Population & Trend

Population grew 3.5% from 15,810 (2022) to 16,366 (2024) — about 5.9× the recent U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~16,947 (extrapolated at 1.8%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 17,742.

Census data vintage2024
Population99,678 people
Annual growth rate · Population change3.5%
Annual growth rate · Population (2022)15,810
Annual growth rate · Population (2024)16,366
Annual growth rate · Population growingYes
Annual growth rate · Trend categorygrowing
Population16,366 people (vs Iowa 24,827)
Population Estimate17,742

Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-12

Age Distribution

Median age 35.4y is 3.5 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 28% — above the U.S. share of ~22%.

Age Summary · Median age35.4 years (vs Iowa 37.3y)
Age Summary · Children Pct27.5%
Age Summary · Characterfamily-oriented
Age Summary · Total Pop16,366
Age Summary · Under 184,507
Age Summary · 18 To 343,605.0×
Age Summary · 35 To 647,055.0×
Age Summary · 65 Plus1,199
Population under 184,507
Median age35.4 years (vs Iowa 37.3y)

Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-29

Race, Ethnicity & Diversity

Of 16,366 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.23 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as somewhat diverse.

White residents13,894
Black residents368
Asian residents563
Hispanic or Latino residents1,023
Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson)22.5%
Diversity Index · Diversity labelsomewhat diverse
Diversity Index · Groups counted4
Diversity Index · Largest group share87.7%
Asian population4.6% (vs Iowa 1.9%)
Black population6.2% (vs Iowa 3.6%)
Hispanic or Latino population5.3% (vs Iowa 5.6%)
White (non-Hispanic) population81.6% (at Iowa median)

Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-12

Ancestry

Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.

Top (8)

(unnamed)
German
(unnamed)
Irish
(unnamed)
English
(unnamed)
Hispanic Total
(unnamed)
American
(unnamed)
Italian
(unnamed)
Puerto Rican
(unnamed)
Asian

Citizenship & Origin

Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 0.3% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 10% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.

Residents born in this state10,598
Residents born in another state4,010
Share born in this state64.8%
Share born in another state35.2%
Native-born U.S. citizens24.5%
Foreign-born residents0.3%
Naturalized citizens10.5%
Total foreign-born residents874
From Europe425
From Africa365

Households & Family Composition

6,117 households. Averaging 2.6 people each — matches the U.S. average of 2.5. 67% are family households — near the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 3,797 families, 49% are married couples with children.

Children under 184,371
Total families3,797
Married couples with children1,847
Single-parent households42
Average household size2.57
Women who gave birth (past year)17.1%
Grandparents living with grandchildren122
Family households4,089 households (vs Iowa 6,171)
Households that are families66.8% (vs Iowa 57.4%)
Total households6,117 households (vs Iowa 10,135)

Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-12

Residential Stability & Migration

How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 9.5% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 5,143 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).

Moved within the county (past year)9.5%
Migration · People moving in (annual)119,422
Migration · People moving out (annual)114,279
Migration · Net migration (in − out)5,143
Migration · Population growingYes
Migration · Year2022-2023

Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-12

Disability

Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.

Residents with a disability757
Disability rate4.9%

Group Quarters

Group quarters are non-household living arrangements counted by the Census — college dormitories, nursing homes, military barracks, group homes, correctional facilities, and similar institutional or shared housing. 50 residents live in group quarters (0.3% of population).

Living in group quarters50

Other

Congressional District · District3
Congressional District · Congress118th
Cdc Birth Rate · Fips19049
Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips19
Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips049
Cdc Birth Rate · CountyDallas
Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate7.8%
Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci6.40
Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci9.40
Cdc Mortality · Fips19049
Cdc Mortality · CountyDallas County
Cdc Mortality · Urban RuralMedium metro
Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 20231,598
Cdc Vaccination · Fips19049
Cdc Vaccination · CountyDallas County
Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct75.5%
Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct69.7%
Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct59.7%
Cdc Vaccination · Population 201993,453
Cdc Vaccination · Metro StatusMetro
Family Score · Score6.00
Family Score · Schools5
Family Score · Childcare Centers5
Family Score · Youth Sports Orgs2
Family Score · Children Pct27.5%
Family Score · Ratinggood
Town Summary · Key Factspopulation 16,366, growing, family-oriented, affluent, white collar
Town Summary · Population16,366 people (vs Iowa 24,827)
Town Summary · CountyDallas County

Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade