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Area Guide

Drake University Des Moines, IA

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Drake Bulldogs Private

Established in 1881, Drake University prepares students for meaningful personal lives, professional accomplishments, and responsible global citizenship. Integration of the liberal arts and sciences with professional preparation in more than 90 areas of study at the undergraduate and graduate levels distinguishes Drake from other universities. Drake offers all the benefits of a larger institution along with the advantages of intimate class sizes and close personal relationships among students, faculty, and staff. Located in Iowa’s capital city, Drake is convenient to plenty of lofts, apartments, and houses available for rent at an affordable price in Drake’s own neighborhood as well as Beaverdale, the Western Gateway, Downtown Des Moines, and the East Village. Easy access to the 235 makes commuting to campus simple. Drake’s campus is vibrant, with over 160 student clubs and organizations hosting events and activities in addition to NCAA Division I Bulldog games. Discover Des Moines’ gems such as Pappajohn Sculpture Park, Iowa State Fairgrounds, Blank Park Zoo, Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, Gray’s Lake Park, and award-winning cuisine.

Rent Trends

As of June 2026, the average apartment rent in Des Moines, IA is $850 for a studio, $1,012 for one bedroom, $1,120 for two bedrooms, and $1,530 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Des Moines has increased by 0.5% in the past year.

  • Studio

  • 447 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $850/month

    Average Rent

  • 1 BR

  • 643 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $1,012/month

    Average Rent

  • 2 BR

  • 915 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $1,120/month

    Average Rent

  • 3 BR

  • 1,180 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $1,530/month

    Average Rent

Getting Around

Moderately Walkable

Walkability

60 / 100

Limited Public Transit

Transit

30 / 100

Exceptionally Drivable

Drivability

90 / 100

Moderately Bikeable

Bikeability

60 / 100

Daily Essentials

Supermarket Within a 10 Minute Walk

Groceries

80 / 100

Fair Restaurant Variety Nearby

Restaurants

50 / 100

Fair Café Variety Nearby

Cafes

50 / 100

Limited Variety of Shops Nearby

Shopping

30 / 100

Recreation

Large Amount of Park Space Nearby

Parks

70 / 100

Limited Wellness Amenity Variety Nearby

Wellness

30 / 100

Local Vibe

Vibrant Atmosphere at Times

Vibrancy

40 / 100

Fair Nightlife Variety Nearby

Nightlife

40 / 100

Somewhat Noisy

Quiet Score

80 / 100

Schools

Cowles Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-8

391 Students

Clive Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

528 Students

Perkins Elementary School

Public

Grades K-5

438 Students

Carver Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

423 Students

Carver Elementary School

Public

Grades K-5

423 Students

Cowles Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-8

391 Students

Merrill Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

634 Students

McCombs Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

654 Students

Woodside Middle School

Public

Grades K-8

359 Students

Meredith Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

664 Students

Roosevelt High School

Public

Grades 9-12

1,986 Students

Saydel High School

Public

Grades 9-12

451 Students

East High School

Public

Grades 9-12

2,040 Students

North High School

Public

Grades 9-12

1,458 Students

Hoover High School

Public

Grades 9-12

991 Students

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • Drake Park
  • Witmer Park
  • Better Homes & Gardens Test Garden
  • Beaverdale Park
  • Prospect Park of Des Moines

Military Bases

Airports

  • Des Moines International

Top Apartments Near Drake University

Houses Near Drake University

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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.