Altoona vs Des Moines
A side-by-side look at two Des Moines metro areas buyers often weigh against each other — current values, rents, market pace, and demographics.
Side by side
| Metric | Altoona | Des Moines |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $322,616 | $213,036 |
| Value change, past year | -0.5% | +0.1% |
| Typical rent / mo | $1,436 | $1,121 |
| Homes for sale | 117 | 1,003 |
| Median days to pending | 27 days | 15 days |
| Listings with price cuts | 26% | 29% |
| Median household income | $86,114 | $65,932 |
| Homeownership | 69% | 60% |
| Population | 21,495 | 212,421 |
Home value, rent & market activity: Zillow Research (2026-08). Income & demographics: U.S. Census ACS (5-year). Cheaper figure highlighted where the two differ.
What the numbers say
- Des Moines is the more affordable of the two — typical home values run about 34% below Altoona.
- Renting is cheaper in Des Moines, which matters if you plan to rent for a year before buying.
- Homes go under contract faster in Des Moines, so expect to move quicker there and to have a bit more room to negotiate in Altoona.
- Altoona has the higher median household income of the two.
- Des Moines is substantially larger than Altoona — worth weighing if small-town feel is part of what you're after.
The character of each
Altoona
The metro's entertainment corner — and one of its more affordable growing suburbs.
Des Moines
The capital city itself — historic neighborhoods and the metro's most affordable entry point.
Schools
Altoona: Largely served by the Southeast Polk Community School District, one of the larger districts in the metro. Confirm the boundary by address.
Des Moines: Mostly Des Moines Public Schools, the largest district in Iowa, though the city's edges fall into neighboring districts. Attendance boundaries vary considerably within the city — verify by address.
Getting around
Altoona: East metro along US-65 and I-80; typically 15–20 minutes to downtown Des Moines outside of peak hours.
Des Moines: The shortest commutes in the metro to downtown, with I-235 running through the city east–west. Many neighborhoods are within 10–15 minutes of the core.
Figures are area-wide typicals, not a valuation of any specific home. Verify school boundaries, property taxes, and current prices by address. Not real-estate or financial advice.