Des Moines, Iowa has an overall cost of living index of 92.8, which is 7.2 points below the US average of 100 — making it more affordable than most American cities. Renters pay a median of $1,090 per month, while the typical home is valued around $194,700. Households earn a median of $65,932 per year, leaving rent at a manageable share of income for many residents. Air quality is good, with an average AQI of 21. Below: housing costs, local wages by occupation, neighborhoods, climate, jobs and major industries, and healthcare access — all drawn from US Census, BEA, BLS, HUD, EPA, and NOAA data.
$65,932
Median Income / yr
Census ACS
$1,090
Median Rent / mo
Census ACS
$194,700
Median Home Value
Census ACS
92.8
Cost of Living Index
Studio FMR
$1,063
HUD · FY2024
1BR Fair Market Rent
$1,109
HUD · FY2024
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,318
HUD · FY2024
3BR Fair Market Rent
$1,794
HUD · FY2024
Fair Market Rent is the 40th percentile of gross rents in the metro area · HUD FY2024
Each category indexed to the US average of 100. Below 100 = cheaper than average.
Overall
92.8
Goods
96.6
Rents / Housing
86.0
Services
88.8
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro-level)
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Software Developer | $119,860 |
| Registered Nurse | $79,650 |
| Elementary Teacher | $56,320 |
| Electrician | $67,140 |
| Accountant | $83,750 |
| Plumber | $67,610 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $245,340 |
| Civil Engineer | $97,420 |
| Operations Manager | $112,810 |
| Market Research Analyst | $83,810 |
| Health Services Manager | $122,380 |
| Truck Driver | $61,030 |
| Physician Assistant | N/A |
| Surgeon | N/A |
| Data Scientist | N/A |
| Computer Engineer | N/A |
Source: BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
Population
212,421
Latest estimate
Median Age
34.6 yrs
Census ACS
21.0
Good0 = clean · 50 = moderate boundary · lower is better
Source: EPA AirNow
Total Neighborhoods
16
Tracked in our database
Avg Walk Score
N/A
0–100 scale
Avg Median Rent
$1,030
Per month
Avg Home Value
$208,593
Census ACS
| Neighborhood | Walk Score | Median Rent | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZIP 50009 | — | $1,140 | $250,000 |
| ZIP 50047 | — | $1,259 | $194,300 |
| ZIP 50211 | — | $976 | $276,100 |
| ZIP 50309 | — | $1,126 | $309,300 |
| ZIP 50310 | — | $1,012 | $197,000 |
| ZIP 50311 | — | $939 | $214,500 |
| ZIP 50312 | — | $1,022 | $259,500 |
| ZIP 50313 | — | $1,029 | $146,900 |
| ZIP 50314 | — | $910 | $138,600 |
| ZIP 50315 | — | $907 | $155,500 |
Showing top 10 of 16 tracked neighborhoods.
January Avg
23°F
July Avg
76°F
Sunny Days / Year
—
Annual Snowfall
—
Climate category: Continental · Source: NOAA/NCEI 30-year normals.
Healthcare Score
31.1
poor
Hospitals
4
Doctors per 1,000
1.00
Insurance Coverage
92.8%
Des Moines has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 92.8. The US national average is 100, so Des Moines is 7.2 points below the national average.
The median gross rent in Des Moines is $1,090 per month according to US Census ACS data.
The median household income in Des Moines is $65,932 per year.
The median home value in Des Moines is $194,700 based on the latest Census ACS survey.
Des Moines has an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 21.0, which is rated "Good" by the EPA. Lower AQI values indicate cleaner air.
Tax data for Iowa is not yet available.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
