Des Moines IA
Iowa · Pop. 212,421
Des Moines, IA: median household income of $65,932, median rent of $1,090/mo, 5.6% unemployment. Our verdict: Solid Choice.
Score Breakdown
Key Metrics
Median Income
$65,932
per year
Median Rent
$1,090
per month
Median Home
$195k
home value
Unemployment
5.6%
of labor force
Poverty Rate
15.0%
below poverty line
Avg. Commute
19 min
one way
City Reality Check balanced
"Des Moines, IA Reality Check"
In Des Moines, the rent-to-income burden runs around 20% — refreshingly manageable by national standards. Median income sits at $65,932 and median rent is $1,090/month. 47% of renters are cost-burdened (30%+ of income on housing). Landlords are winning; everyone else is treading water. Median home value: $194,700 — that's 3× the median income. Employment picture: 5.62% unemployment — a average employment landscape. Poverty rate: 15.0%. Average commute: 19 minutes — mercifully short. Violent crime: 53.1/100k avg monthly rate (5474 reported); Property crime: 281.4/100k avg monthly rate (29030 reported). Des Moines was founded in 1843 — that's 183 years of history baked into the streets. The city covers 90.7 sq miles at 2,341 people/sq mile — spread out. Elevation: 955 ft — modest elevation. Des Moines has 8 sister cities — cosmopolitan on paper, at least. RoastMyCity overall score: 71/100 — Solid Choice.
Local Context
Safety
/100Violent crime: 53.1/100k avg monthly rate (5474 reported); Property crime: 281.4/100k avg monthly rate (29030 reported).