Des Moines County, Iowa Housing Market Prices
Des Moines County 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 84% below the Iowa median Cheaper than 92% of counties in Iowa$24,305
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Median rent 7% below the Iowa median More expensive than 80% of counties in Iowa$904
Median Home Price Map: Nearby Counties
Housing Market Overview
| Metric | Des Moines County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $24,305 | $153,425 | $248,835 |
| Price Trend (Annual %) | 0.9% | 7.5% | 7.5% |
| Median Gross Rent | $904 | $971 | $1,407 |
| Rent Trend (Annual %) | 3.8% | 3.9% | 5.1% |
| Household Income Trend (Annual %) | — | — | — |
The median home price in Des Moines County is about 84% lower than in Iowa. Rent is about 7% lower 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 County, up about 0.9% and 3.8% a year respectively. Rent is changing faster.
Median rent in Des Moines County rose about 42.0% between 2015 and 2024, from $637 to $904. Over the same span, rent in Iowa rose about 39.6%.
Affordability
On average, housing unit costs 0.4 yearly household incomes in Des Moines County.
Buying the median-priced home in Des Moines County costs roughly 2.2 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 County. The price-to-rent ratio in Iowa is about 13.2.
| Metric | Des Moines County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $24,305 | $153,425 | $248,835 |
| Median Household Income | $63,600 | $75,133 | $80,455 |
| Price-to-Income Ratio | 0.4 | 2.0 | 3.1 |
Home Prices vs Income Over Time
Between 2015 and 2024, the median home price in Des Moines County fell about 70.7%, while median household income rose about 42.1% between 2009 and 2025 — income grew faster than the home price.
Income Growth vs Housing Cost Growth (Year-over-Year %)
Compare income and housing cost trends.
Occupancy & Tenure
| Metric | Des Moines County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homeownership Rate | 68.2% | 65.6% | 58.5% |
| Rental Rate | 23.2% | 25.9% | 31.2% |
| Vacancy Rate | 8.6% | 8.5% | 10.2% |
| Median Tenure (years) | 17.0 | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Median Year Moved In | 2009 | 2011 | 2011 |
Des Moines County has a homeownership rate of 68.2%, higher than the Iowa average of 65.6%. Its housing vacancy rate is 8.6%, compared with 8.5% in Iowa.
Housing Stock
| Metric | Des Moines County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Household Size | 2.20 people | 2.37 people | 2.53 people |
| Median Structure Built Year | 1964 | 1971 | 1978 |
| Median Number of Rooms | 5.8 | 5.9 | 5.5 |
The typical housing unit in Des Moines County was built around 1964. On average, 2.2 people live in a home with about 5.8 rooms, staying for about 17.0 years on average.
Des Moines County, IA Housing Compared With Nearby Counties
Des Moines County, IA is the largest of the 5 counties compared here, 38,487 residents against a local median of 18,641. The measure that sets Des Moines County, IA apart most is median home price: $24,305, 72% below the local median of $88,097.
The counties themselves spread $113,270 on median home price, so Des Moines County, IA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Des Moines County, IA has the 5th highest median home price of the 5 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median home price | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines County, IA | 38,487 | $24,305 #5/5 | $904 #1/5 | 74.6% #4/5 |
| Henderson County, IL | 6,193 | $68,240 | $764 | 81.1% |
| Henry County, IA | 20,002 | $107,954 | $819 | 74.1% |
| Lee County, IA | 32,893 | $171,484 | $834 | 76.3% |
| Hancock County, IL | 17,281 | $58,213 | $781 | 81.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the housing market in Des Moines County, Iowa.
What is the median home price in Des Moines County, Iowa?
The median home price in Des Moines County, Iowa is $24,305, lower than the Iowa average of $153,425.
What is the average home price in Des Moines County, Iowa?
The typical home price in Des Moines County, Iowa, reported as the median sale price, is $24,305. 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 County, Iowa?
The median gross rent in Des Moines County, Iowa is $904 per month, lower than the Iowa average of $971.
What was the median gross rent in Des Moines County in 2020?
In 2020, the median gross rent in Des Moines County, Iowa was $808 per month.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Des Moines County, Iowa?
The price-to-rent ratio in Des Moines County, Iowa is about 2.2, meaning it would take roughly 2.2 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 County.
Are home prices or rent rising faster in Des Moines County, Iowa?
Both home prices and rent are rising in Des Moines County, up about 0.9% and 3.8% a year respectively. Rent is changing faster.
What is the homeownership rate in Des Moines County, Iowa?
68.2% of households in Des Moines County, Iowa own their home, higher than the Iowa average of 65.6%.
What is the vacancy rate in Des Moines County, Iowa?
The housing vacancy rate in Des Moines County, Iowa is 8.6%, higher than the Iowa average of 8.5%.
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