Des Moines housing market
Typical home value
$293K
▲ 0.5% 1 yr
Typical rent
$1,280/mo
▲ 2.2% 1 yr
12-month forecast
+1.6%
#336 of 546 metros
Gross rent yield
5.3%
#382 of 546 · U.S. 6.3%
Days to pending
58 days
▲ +9 days 1 yr
Listings with a price cut
33%
▲ +0.9 pts 1 yr
Key takeaways
- 1The typical home is worth $292,513, up 0.5% in a year and up 19% over five years.
- 2Zillow forecasts home values rising 1.6% over the next 12 months (U.S.: +1.1%).
- 3Typical rent is $1,280/mo (+2.2% YoY), a 5.3% gross yield, below the U.S. 6.3%.
- 4At 7.32% with 20% down, the typical home costs $1,607/mo in principal and interest, $327 more than renting.
- 5Homes go under contract in 58 days (+9 days vs last year); 33% of listings have had a price cut.
Market temperature
Buyer's market
Buyer'sNeutralSeller's
Zillow Market Heat Index: 28/100, #466 hottest of 546 metros. Below 44 favors buyers; above 55 favors sellers.
Home values and rent
How fast homes are selling
For saleNew listings
Affordability
To buy (20% down)To rent
Source: Zillow Research (ZHVI, ZORI and market activity data).
How Des Moines compares
| Measure | Des Moines | United States | Rank of 546 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home value, 1-yr change | +0.5% | +1.2% | #403 |
| Home value, 5-yr change | +19.2% | +19.7% | |
| 12-month forecast | +1.6% | +1.1% | #336 |
| Rent, 1-yr change | +2.2% | +2.7% | #385 |
| Gross rent yield | 5.3% | 6.3% | #382 |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 19.0 | 15.8 | |
| Mortgage P&I on typical home | $1,607 | $2,012 | |
| Income needed to buy | $86,897 | $100,902 | |
| Days to pending | 58 | 56 |
Cities in the Des Moines metro
6 cities with home value and rent data.
| Des Moines | $208K | ▼ 0.3% | $1,129 | ▲ 1.0% | 6.5% |
| West Des Moines | $321K | ▲ 0.4% | $1,353 | ▲ 2.3% | 5.1% |
| Ankeny | $339K | ▲ 0.6% | $1,464 | ▲ 1.5% | 5.2% |
| Urbandale | $350K | ▲ 0.2% | $1,038 | ▲ 1.6% | 3.6% |
| Waukee | $345K | ▼ 1.5% | $1,640 | ▲ 5.7% | 5.7% |
| Grimes | $349K | ▼ 0.9% | $1,396 | ▲ 2.9% | 4.8% |
Run the numbers
Rental property calculator
Cash flow on a typical Des Moines rental ($293K, $1,280/mo), pre-filled.
Mortgage calculator
Monthly payment on a typical Des Moines home.
Rent vs buy
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Des Moines?
Other Iowa metros
Cedar Rapids, IA
$247K home$1,226 rent6.0% yield
▲ 3.9% 1 yr
Iowa City, IA
$300K home$1,757 rent7.0% yield
▲ 3.0% 1 yr
Waterloo, IA
$198K home$1,023 rent6.2% yield
▲ 0.9% 1 yr
Sioux City, IA
$224K home$1,295 rent6.9% yield
▲ 3.4% 1 yr
Ames, IA
$277K home$1,162 rent5.0% yield
▲ 2.6% 1 yr
Dubuque, IA
$277K home$1,063 rent4.6% yield
▲ 4.3% 1 yr
Gross yield = 12 × typical rent ÷ typical home value, before expenses. Mortgage estimate: 20% down, 30-year fixed at the current Freddie Mac average, principal and interest only. Forecast: Zillow Home Value Forecast. Data refreshed Oct 26, 2026.