Des Moines, Iowa Housing Market Prices
Des Moines Home Prices and Rent at a Glance
The median home price (often called the average home price), rent costs, affordability metrics, and housing stock characteristics for this housing market.
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Median home price 15% above the Iowa median$176,048
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Median rent 12% above the Iowa median$1,089
Housing Market Overview
| Metric | Des Moines | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $176,048 | $153,425 | $248,835 |
| Price Trend (Annual %) | 6.4% | 7.5% | 7.5% |
| Median Gross Rent | $1,089 | $971 | $1,407 |
| Rent Trend (Annual %) | 4.4% | 3.9% | 5.1% |
| Household Income Trend (Annual %) | — | — | — |
The median home price in Des Moines is about 15% higher than in Iowa. Rent is about 12% higher than the Iowa average.
Median Home and Rent Price Trends
Median Home Prices, 2015-2024
Median Rent Prices, 2015-2024
Both home prices and rent are rising in Des Moines, up about 6.4% and 4.4% a year respectively. Home prices are changing faster.
Median rent in Des Moines rose about 44.9% between 2015 and 2024, from $751 to $1,089. Over the same span, rent in Iowa rose about 39.6%.
Affordability
On average, housing unit costs 2.7 yearly household incomes in Des Moines.
Buying the median-priced home in Des Moines costs roughly 13.5 years of rent at the median monthly rate. That is a relatively low price-to-rent ratio, which tends to favor buying over renting in Des Moines. The price-to-rent ratio in Iowa is about 13.2.
| Metric | Des Moines | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $176,048 | $153,425 | $248,835 |
| Median Household Income | $66,314 | $75,133 | $80,455 |
| Price-to-Income Ratio | 2.7 | 2.0 | 3.1 |
Home Prices vs Income Over Time
Between 2015 and 2024, the median home price in Des Moines rose about 71.0%, while median household income rose about 46.2% between 2009 and 2025 — the home price grew faster than income.
Income Growth vs Housing Cost Growth (Year-over-Year %)
Compare income and housing cost trends.
Occupancy & Tenure
| Metric | Des Moines | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homeownership Rate | 55.7% | 65.6% | 58.5% |
| Rental Rate | 36.5% | 25.9% | 31.2% |
| Vacancy Rate | 7.8% | 8.5% | 10.2% |
| Median Tenure (years) | 12.0 | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Median Year Moved In | 2014 | 2011 | 2011 |
Des Moines has a homeownership rate of 55.7%, lower than the Iowa average of 65.6%. Its housing vacancy rate is 7.8%, compared with 8.5% in Iowa.
Housing Stock
| Metric | Des Moines | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Household Size | 2.30 people | 2.37 people | 2.53 people |
| Median Structure Built Year | 1965 | 1971 | 1978 |
| Median Number of Rooms | 5.1 | 5.9 | 5.5 |
The typical housing unit in Des Moines was built around 1965. On average, 2.3 people live in a home with about 5.1 rooms, staying for about 12.0 years on average.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the housing market in Des Moines, Iowa.
What is the median home price in Des Moines, Iowa?
The median home price in Des Moines, Iowa is $176,048, higher than the Iowa average of $153,425.
What is the average home price in Des Moines, Iowa?
The typical home price in Des Moines, Iowa, reported as the median sale price, is $176,048. The median is used instead of a mathematical average because it is not skewed by a small number of very expensive or very cheap homes, so it better reflects what a typical buyer pays.
What is the median rent in Des Moines, Iowa?
The median gross rent in Des Moines, Iowa is $1,089 per month, higher than the Iowa average of $971.
What was the median gross rent in Des Moines in 2020?
In 2020, the median gross rent in Des Moines, Iowa was $879 per month.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Des Moines, Iowa?
The price-to-rent ratio in Des Moines, Iowa is about 13.5, meaning it would take roughly 13.5 years of rent payments at the median rent to equal the median home price. That is a relatively low price-to-rent ratio, which tends to favor buying over renting in Des Moines.
Are home prices or rent rising faster in Des Moines, Iowa?
Both home prices and rent are rising in Des Moines, up about 6.4% and 4.4% a year respectively. Home prices are changing faster.
What is the homeownership rate in Des Moines, Iowa?
55.7% of households in Des Moines, Iowa own their home, lower than the Iowa average of 65.6%.
What is the vacancy rate in Des Moines, Iowa?
The housing vacancy rate in Des Moines, Iowa is 7.8%, lower than the Iowa average of 8.5%.
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