Des Moines
Iowa · Ranked #221 of 373 metros
70Affordable
💡
Housing in Des Moines costs 3.34× the median income, below the national average of 4.5×. The median home price is $277K and median rent is $1,137/month. Des Moines ranks #221 of 373 metros for affordability.
Median Home Price
🏠$277K
Need $69K income
Median Rent
🔑$1,137
Need $42K income
Housing Shortage
📉10,000
units needed
Building Permits
🔨6,000
annual
Median Income
💰$83K
Pop: 699,292
Rent Burden
⚠️26.5%
of renters paying >30%
Price Change (YoY)
📈+4%
Homeownership
🏡69.0%
Rent Burden
vs. National Average
Key Facts vs. National Average
| Metric | Des Moines | National |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Income Ratio | 3.34x | 6.1x |
| Rent Burden | 26.5% | 31.5% |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.0% | 65.5% |
| YoY Price Change | +4% | +3.5% |
| YoY Rent Change | +3% | +2.8% |
| Mortgage Denial Rate | 11.5% | 13.5% |
| Eviction Rate | 4.5% | 3.6% |
House Price Index (2000–2025)
FHFA All-Transactions HPI
Since 2019: +46.3%Since 2000: +131.4%
HUD Fair Market Rents (FY2026)
Section 8 voucher payment standards
Studio$1,063/mo
1 Bedroom$1,109/mo
2 Bedroom$1,318/mo
3 Bedroom$1,794/mo
4 Bedroom$1,841/mo
Zillow Market Data
Home Value (ZHVI)
$288K
1yr: +1.5%5yr: +27.9%
Rent (ZORI)
$1,257/mo
1yr: +2.2%5yr: +19.7%
Note: ZORI reflects current listing prices and may differ from the Census ACS median rent shown above, which captures what renters actually pay including below-market and subsidized units.
Redfin Market Activity
Median Sale Price
$245K
Active Inventory
708
Days on Market
97
Sold Above List
7.5%
Price Drops
21.8%