Renting in Des Moines, Iowa
Zillow's typical rent in Des Moines for September 2026 is $1,129 a month, up 1.0% from $1,118 in September 2025. The Census Bureau's American Community Survey for 2020–2024 puts the median gross rent, which includes the utilities a renter pays, at $1,090 (± $21) and renter households at 39.5% (± 1.2 points) of the city's occupied homes.
Rent
Of the other eleven typical rents Zillow published for September 2026 for the cities this site covers, two are lower and nine are higher than Des Moines' $1,129 (Zillow Observed Rent Index; what it measures).
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey 2020–2024 puts the median gross rent in Des Moines at $1,090 (± $21), in 2024 dollars, with the utilities the renter pays (how it differs from Zillow's figure).
By number of bedrooms
| Bedrooms | Median gross rent |
|---|---|
| No bedroom (studio) | $878 ± $56 |
| 1 bedroom | $894 ± $31 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,134 ± $19 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,414 ± $46 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,490 ± $204 |
| 5 or more bedrooms | $1,884 ± $269 |
Renters in Des Moines
Of the 90,105 (± 1,262) occupied homes in Des Moines, about 35,599 (± 1,183) are rented: 39.5%, with a margin of error of 1.2 points.
Median household income in Des Moines, in 2024 dollars: renter households $45,663 (± $2,244) and owner households $84,587 (± $2,438).
Of the 33,979 (± 1,232) renter households for which the survey could compute rent as a share of income, 48.8% (± 3.1 points) paid 30% or more of household income in gross rent and 22.1% (± 2.0 points) paid 50% or more.
Type of building
| Building | Share of rented homes |
|---|---|
| 1-unit buildings: detached houses, and attached ones such as row houses | 27.5% ± 2.2 points · about 9,776 homes |
| Buildings with 2 to 4 units | 11.1% ± 1.6 points · about 3,942 homes |
| Buildings with 5 to 19 units | 17.1% ± 2.0 points · about 6,101 homes |
| Buildings with 20 or more units | 42.5% ± 3.2 points · about 15,138 homes |
| Mobile homes, boats, RVs and vans | 1.8% ± 0.7 points · about 642 homes |
Shares of 35,599 (± 1,183) rented homes.
American Community Survey 2020–2024, 90% margins of error. (Which figures are left out.)
Owning the typical home, month by month
The Buy vs Rent calculator's arithmetic for a home at Zillow's typical value for Des Moines. Zillow's typical rent there is $1,129 a month (September 2026). It covers apartments as well as houses and condos, so it describes different homes from the typical value priced here.
| Per month | 10% down$20,805; loan $187,248 | 20% down$41,611; loan $166,442 |
|---|---|---|
| Home priceZillow typical value, September 2026 | $208,053 | $208,053 |
| Principal and interest30-year fixed at 7.18%: Freddie Mac's U.S. average, week ending November 5, 2026 | $1,268 | $1,128 |
| Property tax$3,841 a year: Des Moines city, Des Moines Independent schools, Polk County district, $43.74496 per $1,000, after the 44.5345% rollback, less the homestead credit | $320 | $320 |
| Insurance allowance0.5% of the price a year | $87 | $87 |
| Maintenance allowance1% of the price a year | $173 | $173 |
| Monthly cost to own | $1,849 | $1,708 |
Rounded to the dollar, totals before rounding. The price stands in for the assessed value. The tax takes off the homestead credit, as the calculator does; a buyer now gets the new homestead exemption instead (how this is figured). Not counted: mortgage insurance, closing costs, HOA dues, utilities, equity and changes in value. Des Moines' 21 taxing districts run from $40.19182 to $46.09503 per $1,000 (every district).
Open these numbers in the Buy vs Rent calculator (10% down) →
Des Moines rental-housing rules
What the City of Des Moines says about rental housing in the city, quoted from three of its pages and documents as of November 5, 2026:
- “A house not occupied by the owner must have a rental certificate/license. Inspectors are also charged with the responsibility of inspecting rental units.” (Rental Inspections (Neighborhood Services, Neighborhood Inspections))
- “City code requires that all rental properties have a rental inspection certificate prior to occupancy.” (Rental Inspection Fees)
- “On October 7, 2024, the Des Moines City Council approved updates to Chapter 60 which sets standards for rental properties in the City of Des Moines.” (Advisory on Updates to Chapter 60 (November 1, 2024))
The city's own wording. The Iowa Code's rules apply as well.
More on Des Moines
- Buying a home in Des Moines
- Des Moines property taxes
- School districts: Carlisle, Des Moines Independent, Indianola, Johnston, Norwalk, Saydel, Southeast Polk, Urbandale, West Des Moines
- Iowa renter rules
- Renting in the Des Moines metro
← Renting in Pleasant Hill · Renting in West Des Moines →
Sources
- Zillow Research, Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI), cities, all homes plus multifamily, monthly. Retrieved November 5, 2026. (listing page)
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, by place: tables B25064, B25031, B25003, B25070, B25032 and B25119, via the Census Data API. Retrieved November 5, 2026.
- Zillow Research, Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), cities, single-family homes and condos, middle tier, monthly. Retrieved November 5, 2026. (listing page)
- Freddie Mac, via FRED (Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis), 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Average in the United States (MORTGAGE30US). Retrieved November 5, 2026. Copyright, 2016, Freddie Mac. Reprinted with permission.
- Polk County Auditor, Consolidated Tax Levy Rates For Polk County, Iowa: For 2025 Assessed Valuations, Taxes Payable September 2026 and March 2027 (City Non-Agricultural section). Retrieved November 5, 2026. (listing page)
- City of Des Moines, Rental Inspections (Neighborhood Services, Neighborhood Inspections). Retrieved November 5, 2026.
- City of Des Moines, Rental Inspection Fees. Retrieved November 5, 2026.
- City of Des Moines, Neighborhood Inspections Division, Advisory on Updates to Chapter 60 (November 1, 2024). Retrieved November 5, 2026.
Definitions, formulas and the Iowa Code: the renting page's sources. This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Published figures for the dates named, not a quote for any home or lease. Not financial, legal or real-estate advice.