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Living in
Des Moines.
About
Life in Des Moines
Des Moines offers genuine waterfront living without the intensity of Seattle proper, which appeals to people seeking space and water views at a more manageable scale. The median home value sits around $597,000 and median rent at $1,799 monthly—still Seattle-area pricing, but you're getting actual Puget Sound access rather than paying for proximity. The marina, Saltwater State Park, and pier fishing draw people who want outdoor recreation built into daily life, though it's worth noting this is suburbs-level density at about 5,100 people per square mile, so you're not escaping the urban feel entirely.
Des Moines at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
38.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
12.1%
Foreign-Born
26.0%
Broadband Internet
93.4%
of households
Population Growth
+0.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics26.0% 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 (18.6%), and 14.0% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.2%
of residents
65 and Older
17.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
30.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
29.6%
of households
Married Couples
43.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.68
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 about average for WA
Rent, home values, and income in Des Moines
In Des Moines, home values are 6% above the WA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
67.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
32.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
111.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,640
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
60.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1974
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $592,107 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.7 pts above WA average
Unemployment in Des Moines and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Des Moines is 0.7 percentage points higher than the WA 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
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area
Commute30.8 min avg
How Des Moines residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Des Moines, most residents drive alone to work (68%), and 51% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 3 mi
Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
Major hub25.4M 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 30% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Des Moines runs 30% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
231.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,247.1
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Des Moines Police Department
Natural DisastersHeavy Rain most common — 1 event in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very High
99.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
King County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In King County, which includes Des Moines, the most common type is heavy rain, with 1 recorded event in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | Heat | None reported |
| 2023 | 1 | Heavy Rain | None reported |
| 2022 | 1 | Heavy Rain | $1.5M |
| 2021 | 1 | Flood | $474,000 |
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.
29 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
King County, county-wide
Des Moines is about 1% of King County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality43 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in King County, which includes Des Moines, is typically good — 245 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
43
Good Days
245
per year
Moderate Days
120
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
King County, county-wide
Des Moines is about 1% of King County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate75°F summers, 38°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Des Moines has mild summers (avg high 75°F) and mild winters (avg low 38°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
60°/44°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
75°/56°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
61°/47°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
48°/38°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
39.3"
Annual Snowfall
6.3"
Hot Days/Year
4
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
25
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
156
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 48°F | 38°F | 5.78" |
| Feb | 50°F | 38°F | 3.76" |
| Mar | 54°F | 40°F | 4.17" |
| Apr | 59°F | 43°F | 3.18" |
| May | 66°F | 49°F | 1.88" |
| Jun | 71°F | 53°F | 1.45" |
| Jul | 77°F | 57°F | 0.60" |
| Aug | 78°F | 57°F | 0.97" |
| Sep | 72°F | 54°F | 1.61" |
| Oct | 61°F | 47°F | 3.91" |
| Nov | 52°F | 41°F | 6.31" |
| Dec | 47°F | 37°F | 5.72" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Des Moines
Uninsured
9.2%
of residents
No hospitals inside Des Moines's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Highline Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.8 mi away · Burien
Valley Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6 mi away · Renton
St Francis Community Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.6 mi away · Federal Way
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.
Education19.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Des Moines
Des Moines's student/teacher ratio is 19.7:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 33.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
10
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
33.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
19.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Des Moines
Public · 2-year · 3,838 students · in-state tuition $4,935 · 41% graduate · median earnings $54,850 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 4,965 students · in-state tuition $5,172 · 47% graduate · median earnings $54,621 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 4,668 students · in-state tuition $5,670 · 37% graduate · median earnings $52,313 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Washington-Tacoma Campus
11.5 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 4,185 students · in-state tuition $13,577 · 75% graduate · median earnings $83,105 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,594 students · in-state tuition $65,886 · 73% graduate · median earnings $71,918 (10 yrs after entry)
Faith International University
12 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 276 students · in-state tuition $8,850 · 43% graduate · median earnings $57,111 (10 yrs after entry)
Northwest College of Art & Design
11 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 4-year · 139 students · in-state tuition $18,100 · 50% graduate · median earnings $39,289 (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 & Recreationclosest: Wing Luke Museum Affiliated Area, 14 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Des Moines
Des Moines has 6 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Wing Luke Museum Affiliated Area (14 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Wing Luke Museum Affiliated Area
Affiliated Area
14 mi awayKlondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park
National Historical Park
15 mi awayMount Rainier National Park
National Park
46 mi awayEbey's Landing National Historical Reserve
National Historical Reserve
60 mi awayOlympic National Park
National Park
69 mi awaySan Juan Island National Historical Park
National Historical Park
85 mi awayPublic Libraries in Des Moines
Des Moines Library
21620 11th Avenue S, 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, Washington affordable?⌄
Des Moines's median rent is $1,799/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $92,483/year. Median home value is $597,000.
Is Des Moines, Washington safe?⌄
Des Moines's violent crime rate was 231 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2247 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Des Moines, Washington?⌄
Des Moines has an unemployment rate of 5.4%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Des Moines, Washington?⌄
The cost of living in Des Moines is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,799/month and median household income is $92,483/year. The median home value is $597,000. About 67% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Des Moines, Washington?⌄
The average commute in Des Moines is 31 minutes, which is about 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