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Living in
Des Moines.
About
Life in Des Moines
If you're thinking about moving to Des Moines, understand that you're looking at a city with real economic backbone—it's the headquarters for major insurance and financial services companies like Principal Financial Group and Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, plus significant operations from Wells Fargo, Microsoft, and others—but don't let that fool you into thinking it's all corporate sprawl. The job market is genuinely solid with unemployment around 4.2%, and a median household income of about $66,000 makes the cost of living feel manageable; you're looking at median rents around $1,090 and median home values about $195,000, which means your money actually stretches here compared to most mid-sized metros. The city itself has about 214,000 people with a metro area of roughly 779,000, so you get urban amenities—the Civic Center hosts Broadway shows, there's a world-class botanical garden, and the Des Moines Public Library designed by renowned London architect David Chipperfield is genuinely worth visiting—without the congestion or insane housing costs of truly large cities, and your average commute is under 20 minutes.
Des Moines at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
34.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
15.0%
Foreign-Born
14.2%
Broadband Internet
89.8%
of households
Population Growth
-0.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics14.2% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Des Moines: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Des Moines, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (26.9%), and 11.5% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.2%
of residents
65 and Older
12.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
29.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
37.5%
of households
Married Couples
34.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.30
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 12% above IA average
Rent, home values, and income in Des Moines
In Des Moines, rent runs 12% above the IA average, and home values are 6% below the IA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
46.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
21.1%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
91.7
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,496
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
60.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1961
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $208,053 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.7 pts above IA average
Unemployment in Des Moines and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Des Moines is 0.7 percentage points higher than the IA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Des Moines Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area
Commute19.5 min avg
How Des Moines residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Des Moines, most residents drive alone to work (71%), and 83% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 4 mi
Des Moines International Airport (DSM)
Small hub1.6M passengers boarded in 2025
- 119 mi
Eppley Airfield (OMA)
Medium hub2.6M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 95% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Des Moines runs 95% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
641.5
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,837.5
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Des Moines Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 16 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
92.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Polk County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Polk County, which includes Des Moines, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 16 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $113,200 |
| 2024 | 37 | Thunderstorm Wind | $7.5M |
| 2023 | 10 | Drought | None reported |
| 2022 | 26 | Hail | $75.4M |
| 2021 | 20 | Drought | $30,000 |
| 2020 | 23 | Thunderstorm Wind | $10,000 |
| 2019 | 40 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.3M |
| 2018 | 42 | Hail | $9.2M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Polk County, county-wide
Air Quality44 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Polk County, which includes Des Moines, is typically good — 224 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
44
Good Days
224
per year
Moderate Days
139
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Polk County, county-wide
Climate84°F summers, 17°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Des Moines has warm summers (avg high 84°F) and very cold winters (avg low 17°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
61°/41°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
84°/64°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
63°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
34°/17°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
36.6"
Annual Snowfall
36.5"
Hot Days/Year
22
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
128
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
113
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°F | 14°F | 1.08" |
| Feb | 36°F | 18°F | 1.34" |
| Mar | 49°F | 30°F | 2.17" |
| Apr | 62°F | 41°F | 4.02" |
| May | 72°F | 52°F | 5.24" |
| Jun | 82°F | 62°F | 5.26" |
| Jul | 86°F | 66°F | 3.82" |
| Aug | 84°F | 64°F | 4.17" |
| Sep | 77°F | 55°F | 3.18" |
| Oct | 63°F | 43°F | 2.78" |
| Nov | 48°F | 30°F | 1.91" |
| Dec | 36°F | 20°F | 1.58" |
Healthcare4 hospitals, avg 2.8/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Des Moines
Des Moines has 4 hospitals, averaging 2.8 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
4
within city limits
Uninsured
7.2%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.8 / 5
VA Central Iowa Healthcare System
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available
Unitypoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist Medi
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Broadlawns Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Mercyone Des Moines Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Clive Behavioral Health
Psychiatric · 8.6 mi away · Clive
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Des Moines
Des Moines's student/teacher ratio is 15.9:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 29.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
59
within city limits
Private Schools
12
within city limits
College Degree Rate
29.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Des Moines
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,543 students · in-state tuition $52,130 · 78% graduate · median earnings $78,855 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,486 students · in-state tuition $36,136 · 61% graduate · median earnings $58,718 (10 yrs after entry)
Mercy College of Health Sciences
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 867 students · in-state tuition $18,024 · 67% graduate · median earnings $63,983 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,227 students · in-state tuition $48,988 · 67% graduate · median earnings $57,816 (10 yrs after entry)
Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary
11.4 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 405 students · in-state tuition $21,100 · 62% graduate · median earnings $41,000 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreation
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Des Moines
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Public Libraries in Des Moines
Des Moines Public Library
1000 Grand Ave, Des Moines
East Side Library
259 Hubbell Ave, Des Moines
Forest Avenue Library
1326 Forest Ave, Des Moines
Franklin Avenue Library
5000 Franklin Ave, Des Moines
North Side Library
3516 5th Ave, Des Moines
South Side Library
1111 Sw Porter Ave, Des Moines
Cities Near Des Moines
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Des Moines?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Des Moines FAQ
Is Des Moines, Iowa affordable?⌄
Des Moines's median rent is $1,090/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $65,932/year. Median home value is $194,700.
Is Des Moines, Iowa safe?⌄
Des Moines's violent crime rate was 642 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2838 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Des Moines, Iowa?⌄
Des Moines has an unemployment rate of 4.2%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Des Moines, Iowa?⌄
The cost of living in Des Moines is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,090/month and median household income is $65,932/year. The median home value is $194,700. About 47% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Des Moines, Iowa?⌄
The average commute in Des Moines is 20 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from