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Market Intelligence

Des Moines, IA

Updated quarterly · Data sourced from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI, Census ACS, and FHFA. · Iowa overview

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Home Value

$255k+5.7%

Median Rent

$1,320+1.6%

Per month average

Gross Yield

6.21%

Annual rent / value

Rent / Price

0.518%

1% rule benchmark

HH Income

$75,000

Median household

Owner-Occ

69.0%

Renter-Occ

31.0%

Tenant demand share

Population

710k

Metro area census

Market Analysis

The Des Moines, IA real estate market currently sits at a median home value of $255k with median rents around $1,320/month, producing a gross yield of 6.21%. That puts Des Moines in the category of moderate gross yield, investors here typically lean on appreciation alongside cash flow. Over the past year, home values are up 5.7%, while rents rose 1.6%, the gap between those two trends is what determines whether yield compresses or expands over time for buy-and-hold investors in Iowa. Des Moines is an owner-occupier market (69% owner-occupied) where investor competition is generally lighter, with median household income of $75,000 setting the affordability ceiling on future rent growth.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Des Moines, IA?
As of late 2025, the median rent in Des Moines is approximately $1,320 per month, with rent growth of 1.6% year over year.
Is Des Moines a good market for rental property investing?
Des Moines produces a gross rental yield of about 6.21%. That is below the 7% LTR benchmark, so investors in Des Moines typically combine modest cash flow with appreciation upside. Run your specific numbers in a calculator before committing capital.
What is the median home price in Des Moines?
The median home value in Des Moines, IA is approximately $255,000, up 5.7% from a year ago.
How have home prices changed in Des Moines over the past year?
Home values in Des Moines have moved 5.7% year over year, while rents have changed by 1.6%. This price-to-rent gap is the single biggest driver of long-term rental investor returns in the Iowa market.
What is the rent-to-price ratio in Des Moines?
Des Moines has a rent-to-price ratio of 0.518%, meaning monthly rent is about 0.518% of the home's price. The "1% rule" used by buy-and-hold investors looks for 1.0%+; this market falls short of that bar, which is typical for most large US metros today.

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