October 8, 2019
Liesl Eathington, assistant scientist, was interviewed for an October 8th Des Moines Register story, "Ankeny, West Des Moines top 65,000 residents." The American Community Survey’s one year estimates show the city's (Des Moines) population was 216,993 in 2018, compared with a population of 217,508 the year before.
Eathington said these dips are not “statistically significant.” “But the fact that there was not strong growth is also important,” she said.
"The ACS is more useful for looking at demographic details for a community than for the total population," Eathington said. "The latest survey showed rising income inequality, both nationally and in Iowa."