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IA area data

Des Moines, IA

Aggregated across 9 ZIP codes in Des Moines.

Population: 169,200 (Census ACS)

The typical home value in Des Moines, IA is $234,360 — down 0.3% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $250,722 after a median 41 days on market. Typical rent runs $1,129/month. 52 schools serve the area (NCES). FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Relatively Moderate, with strong wind, cold wave, drought the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 12.2% below the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).

Backed by 25+ public sourcesFEMA · U.S. Census · NOAA · Dept. of Education · EPA · and more

$234,360

Typical home value

-0.3%

1-year change

41

Median days on market

Relatively Moderate

Hazard risk (county)

Home values & appreciation

Typical home value
$234,360
1-year appreciation
-0.3%
3-year appreciation
+6.1%
5-year appreciation
+20.9%
10-year appreciation
+79.3%
Peak value since 2000 (Apr 2024)
$238,882
House Price Index (state)
386.7 (+2.3% YoY)

Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)

Market activity

Median sale price
$250,722
Median list price
$257,906
Median price per sqft
$194
1-year sale-price change
+0.5%
Median days on market
41 days
Homes sold (recent period)
681
For-sale inventory
791
Sale-to-list ratio
98.0%
Active listings
641
1-year forecast
+1.7%
Days to pending
47 days
New listings (monthly)
224

Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)

Rents

Typical rent
$1,129/mo
1-year rent change
+2.6%
Studio fair-market rent
$1,102/mo
1BR fair-market rent
$1,145/mo
2BR fair-market rent
$1,360/mo
3BR fair-market rent
$1,856/mo
4BR fair-market rent
$1,901/mo

Sources: market rent index (ZIP-level) · HUD Fair Market Rents (metro/county-level, 40th-percentile regulatory reference)

Affordability

Cost of living index (Low)
87.8 (100 = US avg)
Electricity rate (state-level)
13.7¢/kWh
Natural gas rate (state-level)
$10.60/MCF
30-year mortgage rate (national)
7.40%
15-year mortgage rate (national)
6.73%

Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro/state-level) · EIA energy rates (state-level) · Freddie Mac PMMS (national)

Schools

Total schools
52
Elementary schools
31
Middle schools
9
High schools
8
Charter schools
2
Avg student-teacher ratio
15.8 : 1
School districts serving the area
Des Moines Independent Comm School District, Charter Organization: Concept Schools, Saydel Comm School District
Schools include
Downtown School, Walnut Street School, Virtual Campus, Hillis Elementary School, Hoover High School

Source: NCES school directory, 2024-25 (school-address-based)

Natural hazards & flood risk

Overall hazard risk (county)
Relatively Moderate
Top hazards (county)
strong wind, cold wave, drought, hail, heat wave
Notable hazard ratings (county)
strong wind: Very High · hail: Relatively High · drought: Relatively High · tornado: Relatively High · cold wave: Relatively High · heat wave: Relatively High
Most common flood zone among NFIP claims (varies by location)
Zone AE
NFIP flood claims on record
679
Wildfire risk to homes (county)
Higher than 28% of US counties
Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
18.0%
Radon potential (county)
High radon potential — EPA Zone 1 of 3
EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
3
Nearest Superfund site
Des Moines TCE (0.9 mi)
Flood zones vary by property. Look up a specific address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center.
EPA recommends radon testing for every home regardless of zone.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA NFIP flood-insurance claims (ZIP-level) · USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (county-level) · EPA radon zones + Superfund NPL

Climate (30-year normals)

Average annual temperature
56.0°F
Average high
64.6°F
Average low
47.2°F
Annual precipitation
37.7 in
Annual snowfall
24.6 in
USDA plant hardiness zone
5b (extreme annual low -15 to -10°F)

Sources: NOAA Climate Normals (30-year, nearest-station) · USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)

Air quality

Air quality rating
Good
Median AQI (annual)
44
Days with Good air quality
224
Days with Moderate air quality
139
Highest AQI recorded (year)
136

Source: EPA annual air quality index (county-level)

Walkability & transit

Walkability index
12.2 / 20
Transit service frequency
-21,860
Jobs reachable by car (30 min)
85,943
Jobs reachable by transit (45 min)
64,307

Source: EPA Smart Location Database (metropolitan block groups)

Amenities

Airports within 30 mi
18
Nearest airport
Des Moines International Airport (DSM) (0 mi)
Nearest major airport
Des Moines International Airport (DSM) (0 mi)
Hospitals in or near a typical ZIP here
10
Hospitals include
UNITYPOINT HEALTH - DES MOINES IOWA METHODIST MEDI, VA CENTRAL IOWA HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, MARY GREELEY MEDICAL CENTER
Avg hospital rating (CMS)
3.1 / 5
Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
4.3 / 5
Solar radiation rating
Fair (4.0 kWh/m²/day)

Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data (same ZIP, else within ~40 mi) · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)

Migration

Net migration (county)
-1,132 tax filers

Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration (county-level; published with a multi-year lag)

Housing stock

Median year housing built
1964
Housing built before 1970
54.5%
Housing built 2000 or later
18.5%
Median annual property tax
$3,789
Mean commute to work
16 min
Households with broadband internet
69.5%

Source: Census ACS 5-year estimates (ZIP-level)

Employment & development

Total county employment
275,721
Average weekly wage
$1,456
Top industries (by employment)
Health Care, Finance & Insurance, Accommodation & Food
Annual residential building permits (county)
4,730

Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)

How it compares

Des MoinesState medianUS median
Typical home value$234,360$211,043$288,527
Median sale price$250,722$220,000$325,000
Median days on market41 days48 days51 days
Typical rent$1,129/mo$1,168/mo$1,809/mo
Median annual property tax$3,789$1,927$2,006

State and US medians are computed across all US ZIP codes with sufficient public-data coverage, from the same sources as the figures above.

Area data compiled from public government, academic, and industry research feeds. Data sources →

Common questions

What is the typical home value in Des Moines, IA?
$234,360.
What is the median sale price in Des Moines, IA?
$250,722.
How long do homes take to sell in Des Moines, IA?
Median days on market: 41 days.
What is typical rent in Des Moines, IA?
Typical rent: $1,129/month.
What is the natural-hazard risk in Des Moines, IA?
Overall risk: Relatively Moderate (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: strong wind, cold wave, drought, hail, heat wave.
Is Des Moines, IA in a flood zone?
Flood zones vary by property across the city. 679 FEMA flood-insurance (NFIP) claims are on record; the most common zone among them is AE. Check a specific address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center.
What is the wildfire risk in Des Moines, IA?
Risk to homes is higher than 28% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
What is the radon potential in Des Moines, IA?
High radon potential — EPA Zone 1 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
Are there Superfund sites near Des Moines, IA?
3 current or proposed National Priorities List sites within 5 miles (EPA). Nearest site: Des Moines TCE, 0.9 mi.
How many schools serve Des Moines, IA?
52 schools (31 elementary, 9 middle, 8 high) (NCES, 2024-25).
Is Des Moines, IA walkable?
Walkability index: 12.2/20 (EPA Smart Location Database).
What is the air quality in Des Moines, IA?
Good. Median AQI: 44. (EPA AQI).
What is the cost of living in Des Moines, IA?
Regional Price Parity: 87.8 (100 = US average) (Low) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).

ZIP codes in Des Moines

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Data last updated

Most recent source refresh: Oct 2026. See all data sources →

Data compiled by REAIGENT7 — AI listing platform for real estate agents