Des Moines

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Des Moines, WA Area Guide

Avg Rent

$1,497

Population

32,468

Renter Mix

42% Rent

Enjoy stunning views of Puget Sound from your back yard in this SeaTac suburb

Coastal Scenic Waterfront Interstate College Affordable Parks Nature Boating

Just south of SeaTac Airport between I-5 and Puget Sound, Des Moines is a large suburban community just minutes from both Seattle and Tacoma. With an abundance of affordable apartments, condos, and houses in town, Des Moines is a great option for commuters who work in either of the neighboring cities, as well as for students, faculty, and staff at Highline College.

This section of the Puget Sound shoreline allows easy access for boaters, and several recreational marinas operate in the area. The landscape slopes sharply toward the water in many places, providing unbeatable scenic views from as far inland as the Interstate.

Demographics

Median Household Income

$78,149

Average: $99,848

Education

8,641

Residents Have a Degree

Job Market

16,051

Workers Employed

Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.

Median Age

41 Years

Largest Age Group

30-39 Years

Approximately 15% of Residents

Under 20

22%

Over 65

19%

Housing Distribution

Des Moines has more homeowners than renters.

Renters
42%
Non-Renters
58%

Education Distribution

Review this city's overall education levels.

Bachelor's or Higher
21%
Other Education
79%

Rent Trends

As of April 2026, the average apartment rent in Des Moines, WA is $1,212 for a studio, $1,495 for one bedroom, $1,752 for two bedrooms, and $2,040 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Des Moines has increased by 1.4% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,495/month
647 Sq Ft
House
$3,311/month
2,054 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Des Moines, WA

Getting Around

Fairly Walkable

Walkability

40 / 100

Limited Public Transit

Transit

30 / 100

Exceptionally Drivable

Drivability

90 / 100

Fairly Bikeable

Bikeability

50 / 100

Schools

North Hill-Primary School

Public

Grades PK-5

495 Students

Woodmont Elementary School

Public

Grades K-8

439 Students

Parkside Elementary

Public

Grades PK-5

445 Students

Midway Elementary

Public

Grades PK-5

537 Students

Des Moines Elementary

Public

Grades PK-5

520 Students

Woodmont Elementary School

Public

Grades K-8

439 Students

Pacific Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

651 Students

Maritime High School

Public

Grades 9-12

83 Students

Mount Rainier High School

Public

Grades 9-12

1,873 Students

Cascade Public Schools

Public

Grades 9-12

146 Students

Gateway To College

Public

Grades 9-12

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • Saltwater State Park
  • Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden
  • Highline SeaTac Botanical Garden
  • Eagle Landing Park
  • Dash Point State Park

Transit / Subway

Airports

  • Seattle-Tacoma International

Top Apartments in Des Moines

Houses for Rent in Des Moines

Search Nearby Rentals

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 February 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.