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Iowa city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Des Moines?

What it costs to live in Des Moines, and how it compares with other Iowa cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

34

26th best value in Iowa

How much you get for what you pay, versus other Iowa cities.

Overall livability

34

25th overall in Iowa

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Des Moines is home to about 213,545 people. A typical home runs $149,700 and a household earns around $58,400, a price-to-income ratio of 2.6. Among Iowa's largest cities, it ranks 26th for value and 25th overall.

Des Moines at a glance

Median home price

$149,700

16th in IA of 30

Median rent

$916/mo

Median household income

$58,400

Home price to income

2.6x

Unemployment

5.8%

25th in IA of 30

School rating

4/10

18th in IA of 30

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in IA of 30

Walk score

25/100

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‹ See all top Iowa cities ranked  ยท  Iowa state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within Iowa only. Updated 2026.