Des Moines, Washington 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 60% above the Washington median$773,942
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Median rent 2% above the Washington median$1,788
Housing Market Overview
| Metric | Des Moines | Washington Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $773,942 | $485,016 | $248,835 |
| Price Trend (Annual %) | 21.9% | 10.9% | 7.5% |
| Median Gross Rent | $1,788 | $1,759 | $1,407 |
| Rent Trend (Annual %) | 6.3% | 6.6% | 5.1% |
| Household Income Trend (Annual %) | — | — | — |
The median home price in Des Moines is about 60% higher than in Washington. Rent is about 2% higher than the Washington 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 21.9% and 6.3% a year respectively. Home prices are changing faster.
Median rent in Des Moines rose about 68.2% between 2015 and 2024, from $1,063 to $1,788. Over the same span, rent in Washington rose about 73.4%.
Affordability
On average, housing unit costs 8.5 yearly household incomes in Des Moines.
Buying the median-priced home in Des Moines costs roughly 36.1 years of rent at the median monthly rate. That is a relatively high price-to-rent ratio, which tends to favor renting over buying in Des Moines. The price-to-rent ratio in Washington is about 23.0.
| Metric | Des Moines | Washington Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $773,942 | $485,016 | $248,835 |
| Median Household Income | $90,886 | $98,224 | $80,455 |
| Price-to-Income Ratio | 8.5 | 4.9 | 3.1 |
Home Prices vs Income Over Time
Between 2015 and 2024, the median home price in Des Moines rose about 234.7%, while median household income rose about 37.3% 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 | Washington Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homeownership Rate | 54.7% | 59.1% | 58.5% |
| Rental Rate | 39.9% | 33.6% | 31.2% |
| Vacancy Rate | 5.4% | 7.3% | 10.2% |
| Median Tenure (years) | 13.0 | 14.0 | 15.0 |
| Median Year Moved In | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 |
Des Moines has a homeownership rate of 54.7%, lower than the Washington average of 59.1%. Its housing vacancy rate is 5.4%, compared with 7.3% in Washington.
Housing Stock
| Metric | Des Moines | Washington Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Household Size | 2.66 people | 2.50 people | 2.53 people |
| Median Structure Built Year | 1974 | 1983 | 1978 |
| Median Number of Rooms | 5.1 | 5.5 | 5.5 |
The typical housing unit in Des Moines was built around 1974. On average, 2.7 people live in a home with about 5.1 rooms, staying for about 13.0 years on average.
Des Moines, WA Housing Compared With Nearby Cities
How Des Moines, WA compares with the 2 cities closest to it.
| Area | Population | Median home price | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines, WA | 30,822 | $773,942 #1/3 | $1,788 #2/3 | 57.8% #2/3 |
| Federal Way, WA | 99,921 | $637,454 | $1,797 | 55.8% |
| Burien, WA | 47,382 | $771,957 | $1,774 | 58.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the housing market in Des Moines, Washington.
What is the median home price in Des Moines, Washington?
The median home price in Des Moines, Washington is $773,942, higher than the Washington average of $485,016.
What is the average home price in Des Moines, Washington?
The typical home price in Des Moines, Washington, reported as the median sale price, is $773,942. 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, Washington?
The median gross rent in Des Moines, Washington is $1,788 per month, higher than the Washington average of $1,759.
What was the median gross rent in Des Moines in 2020?
In 2020, the median gross rent in Des Moines, Washington was $1,387 per month.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Des Moines, Washington?
The price-to-rent ratio in Des Moines, Washington is about 36.1, meaning it would take roughly 36.1 years of rent payments at the median rent to equal the median home price. That is a relatively high price-to-rent ratio, which tends to favor renting over buying in Des Moines.
Are home prices or rent rising faster in Des Moines, Washington?
Both home prices and rent are rising in Des Moines, up about 21.9% and 6.3% a year respectively. Home prices are changing faster.
What is the homeownership rate in Des Moines, Washington?
54.7% of households in Des Moines, Washington own their home, lower than the Washington average of 59.1%.
What is the vacancy rate in Des Moines, Washington?
The housing vacancy rate in Des Moines, Washington is 5.4%, lower than the Washington average of 7.3%.
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