The population of Grimes is approximately 15,831 at the 2020 census. The city is in Polk and Dallas Counties and is part of the Des Moines, Iowa, metropolitan area. The city is located on the east side of Iowa Highway 141, also known as S.E. Grimes Boulevard. The city's population is primarily made up of residents from the surrounding counties, such as Dallas, Polk, and Johnson.
The city's population is a blend of both native and foreign-born residents. The median age of residents in Grimes is 34.1 years. Of those who were born in Grimes, the majority were between the ages of 18 and 24. Twenty-four percent were between the ages of 45 and 64. Only 5.7% of residents were over the age of 65. The gender makeup of the city is roughly equal: 49.3% are male, 50.7% are female.
The city's name is a catch-all term for many places. It's a common name, and the USPS uses it to designate the area. While Grimes is a small city, it's surrounded by large, upscale cities and is a gateway to Des Moines. The rapid growth of the population has drawn big box retailers to Grimes. A Walmart opened in 2010 and a Menards is slated to open its doors in July 2019.
In addition to its high percentage of married couples, Grimes has a lower percentage of single people than nearby towns. Urbandale has a lower proportion of single people, while Grimes has a higher proportion of married couples than Clive. In addition, Grimes is smaller than its neighboring town, Clive, has a larger percent of households headed by married couples. Lastly, Grimes is smaller than Clive in terms of married-couple households.