Des Moines, Iowa
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Des Moines.
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in Des Moines?
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 586.6).
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 · avg 586.6
- Summer high
- 84°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how Des Moines compares with the U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals where available; catalog-city averages for 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 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024 - Median household income
- $63,966Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year19% below U.S. avgU.S. $78,538 - Housing cost index
- 69ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year31% below U.S. avgU.S. 100 - Median home value
- $183,700City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year39% below U.S. avgU.S. $303,400 - Median rent
- $1,054City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year22% below U.S. avgU.S. $1,348 - Unemployment
- 3.5%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026Near U.S. avg (4.2 pts)U.S. 4.2 pts - Avg commute
- 19 min24% below U.S. avgU.S. 25 min
- Walk Score
- 45Near U.S. avg (45)U.S. 45
- Violent crime rate
- 712annualized per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)21% above U.S. avgU.S. 586.6 - Property crime rate
- 4090.5annualized per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)32% above U.S. avgU.S. 3087.9 - Summer high
- 84°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals3.0°F below U.S. avgU.S. 87°F
- Winter low
- 17°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals17.0°F below U.S. avgU.S. 34°F
- Annual rainfall
- 36.5 inAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals11% above U.S. avgU.S. 33 in
- Sunny days
- 252As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals6% below U.S. avgU.S. 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 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?
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?
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?
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 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 586.6 and 3087.9. 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?
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 Data Explorer, 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 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year
- BLS: BLS LAUS · Polk County, July 2026 — As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026
- Crime: FBI CIUS Table 8 (2019) city offenses known to law enforcement — rates per 100k; CDE API unavailable at enrich time — As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00014933 DES MOINES INTL AP) — As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
- Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024
Catalog refreshed 2026-09-10