Des Moines, Iowa
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Des Moines, IA.
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in Des Moines, IA?
Des Moines planning snapshot: population 213,096, housing index 69 (among the more affordable large markets in this catalog), median home $183,700, median rent $1,054, and income near $63,966. Expect 84°F summer highs, 17°F winter lows, and about 19-minute one-way commutes. Violent-offense rates run about 712 per 100k (catalog avg 559.5).
Crime figures may use an older source vintage than housing and income on this page.
- Housing cost index
- 69U.S. avg 100
- Median home value
- $183,700U.S. $303,400
- Median rent
- $1,054U.S. $1,348
- Median income
- $63,966U.S. $78,538
- Unemployment
- 3.5%U.S. 4.2%
- Avg commute
- 19 minCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime
- 712per 100k · catalog avg 559.5
- Summer high
- 84°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how Des Moines compares with a U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals) or a MapsToIt catalog average (crime, climate, and commute). Income, housing, population, and crime are for the incorporated city (city limits), not the broader metro/MSA — unemployment is county-level (BLS LAUS).
- Population
- 213,096City limits · Census PEP 2024 estimate
As of 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024 - Median household income
- $63,966Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year19% below U.S. avgU.S. $78,538 - Housing cost index
- 69ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year31% below U.S. avgU.S. 100 - Median home value
- $183,700City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year39% below U.S. avgU.S. $303,400 - Median rent
- $1,054City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year22% below U.S. avgU.S. $1,348 - Unemployment
- 3.5%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-10-19 · July 20260.7 pts below U.S. rateU.S. 4.2% - Avg commute
- 19 min24% below catalog avgCatalog avg 25 min
- Walk Score
- 45Near catalog avg (45)Catalog avg 45
- Violent crime rate
- 712per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback) · older data (2019)27% above catalog avgCatalog avg 559.5 - Property crime rate
- 4090.5per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback) · older data (2019)36% above catalog avgCatalog avg 3005.3 - Summer high
- 84°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals3.0 pts below catalog avgCatalog avg 87°F
- Winter low
- 17°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals18.0 pts below catalog avgCatalog avg 35°F
- Annual rainfall
- 36.5 inAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals10% above catalog avgCatalog avg 33.2 in
- Sunny days
- 252As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals6% below catalog avgCatalog avg 268
Population trend
Des Moines grew 3.9% from 205,032 in 2010 to 213,096 in 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024). Playback steps monthly between annual Census PEP estimates.
Is Des Moines, IA expensive compared to the U.S. average?
Des Moines's housing cost index is 69 versus 100 nationally — among the more affordable large markets in this catalog. That gap is driven mainly by ACS median home values ($183,700 vs $303,400) and rents ($1,054 vs $1,348).
- Housing cost index 69 (U.S. 100)
- Median home $183,700 vs U.S. $303,400
- Median rent $1,054 vs U.S. $1,348
How much does housing cost in Des Moines, IA?
Typical ownership costs center near $183,700, while median gross rent is about $1,054 a month. Against a median household income of $63,966, rent alone is roughly 20% of income on an annualized basis.
- Median home value $183,700
- Median rent $1,054/month
- Median household income $63,966
What is the job market like in Des Moines, IA?
County unemployment recently ran 3.5% versus a U.S. rate of 4.2%. Median household income in Des Moines is about $63,966 (U.S. $78,538).
- Unemployment 3.5% (U.S. 4.2%)
- Median income $63,966
How long is the typical commute in Des Moines, IA?
Average one-way commute time is about 19 minutes, with Walk Score near 45/100. The catalog-city average commute is 25 minutes.
- 19 minutes average one-way
- Walk Score 45/100
Is Des Moines, IA safer than similar U.S. cities?
Published violent-offense rates are about 712 per 100k and property about 4090.5 per 100k, versus catalog averages of 559.5 and 3005.3. Citywide rates hide large neighborhood differences.
- Violent 712 per 100k
- Property 4090.5 per 100k
What is the climate like year-round in Des Moines, IA?
Normals show summer highs near 84°F, winter lows near 17°F, about 36.5 inches of rain, and roughly 252 sunny days a year.
- Summer high 84°F
- Winter low 17°F
- 36.5 in rain · 252 sunny days
Prairie winters and a strong agribusiness employment base anchor the economy. Winter lows around 17°F mean heating costs and snow logistics belong on the checklist. Average one-way commute time is about 19 minutes, and Walk Score estimates land around 45/100. Labor-market readings near 3.5% unemployment are neither boom nor bust by national standards. Violent-offense rates near 712 per 100k sit in a mid-to-elevated band versus many peer cities in this catalog.
Des Moines (pop. 213,096) sits in Iowa. With median income around $63,966 and a cost index of 69, the market reads among the more affordable large markets in this catalog on housing costs. Entry home prices around $183,700 still look attainable compared with coastal metros.
Des Moines is compact enough that a single wrong neighborhood choice is easy to feel day to day — visit at commute hour before signing. Figures on this page are merged from Census ACS, BLS LAUS, FBI crime figures, and NOAA Climate Normals — use them to compare Des Moines with nearby alternatives before you relocate.
Nearby & similar cities
Continue researching with these internal links — each page is a full data profile.
Sources
- Census / ACS: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year (Des Moines city, 1600000US1921000) — As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year
- BLS: BLS LAUS · Polk County, July 2026 — As of 2026-10-19 · July 2026
- Crime: FBI CIUS Table 8 (2019), city offenses per 100k — As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00014933 DES MOINES INTL AP) — As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
- Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024
Catalog refreshed 2026-10-19