Median Age
36 Years
Largest Age Group
25-34 Years
Approximately 16% of Residents
Under 20
25%
Over 65
15%
Des Moines, IA
Area Guide
Avg Rent
$1,017
Population
216,878
Renter Mix
43% Rent
Come feel the beat of the heartland in Iowa's capital city
Vibrant
•
Active
•
Urban
Des Moines combines city living with authentic Midwestern hospitality. The state capital offers varied housing choices, from downtown apartments to single-family homes in established neighborhoods. The East Village neighborhood features local boutiques and restaurants in beautifully restored historic buildings. The area around Drake University draws students and faculty, while Windsor Heights provides peaceful residential streets just minutes from downtown's climate-controlled skywalk system.
The Des Moines Art Center, Pappajohn Sculpture Park, and Science Center of Iowa anchor the city's arts and culture scene. Outdoor enthusiasts enjoy 76 city parks and three public golf courses, including the popular Gray's Lake Park with its scenic 1.9-mile lakeside trail. The insurance industry drives the local economy, with major employers Principal Financial Group and Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield maintaining significant operations downtown. Throughout the year, residents gather at signature events like the Iowa State Fair and the Downtown Farmers' Market, one of the largest open-air markets in the Midwest.
Explore the City
Ancient forests and Juno sculptures in downtown Des Moines.
Gray's Lake offers boat rentals for residents to get out on the water.
Principal Park is home to the Chicago Cubs' affiliate, the Iowa Cubs.
Vendors fill the downtown Farmers Market in Des Moines.
Witmer Park offers walking trails around a scenic pond.
Drake University is a private university in Des Moines.
Demographics
Median Household Income
$59,013
Average: $75,153
Education
52,023
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
116,059
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Des Moines has more homeowners than renters.
Renters
43%
Non-Renters
57%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
19%
Other Education
81%
Rent Trends
As of June 2026, the average apartment rent in Des Moines, IA is $846 for a studio, $1,018 for one bedroom, $1,137 for two bedrooms, and $1,537 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Des Moines has increased by 0.8% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,018/month
643 Sq Ft
House
$1,344/month
925 Sq Ft
Condo
$1,331/month
771 Sq Ft
Townhome
$1,519/month
1,337 Sq Ft
Cost of Living
The cost of living in Des Moines, IA is 16.9% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Des Moines is 37.2% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $846 - $1,537. You can expect to pay 1.7% less for groceries, 21.2% less for utilities, and 0.9% less for transportation.
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Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Des Moines, IA is for everyday living.
Moderately Walkable
Walkability
60
/ 100
Limited Public Transit
Transit
20
/ 100
Very Drivable
Drivability
80
/ 100
Moderately Bikeable
Bikeability
60
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Public
Grades PK-8
391 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
528 Students
Public
Grades K-5
438 Students
Public
Grades K-5
423 Students
Public
Grades K-5
423 Students
Public
Grades PK-8
391 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
634 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
654 Students
Public
Grades K-8
359 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
664 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,986 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
451 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
2,040 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,458 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
991 Students
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
Parks and Recreation
- Columbus Park
- Pioneer Park of Des Moines
- Mac Rae Park
- Science Center of Iowa
- James W. Cownie Soccer Park
Military Bases
Airports
- Des Moines International
Top Apartments in Des Moines
Houses for Rent in Des Moines
Living in Des Moines
Search Nearby Rentals
Nearby City Rentals
Nearby Neighborhood Rentals
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Methodology
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in June 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.