Polk County · Des Moines-West Des Moines · population 213,096
Where Des Moines stands
At or near all-time high.
Home value trajectory · last 10 years
Zillow ZHVI · monthlyLifestyle scores
Scores are heuristic estimates from population density, state, and known transit/walkable cities. Not based on a paid Walk Score / Transit Score API — see methodology for the formula.
Rent trajectory · last 5 years
Zillow ZORI · monthlyHome value vs rent · indexed to 100
Both rebased at first month of ZORI data (~2015)Rent vs buy
At a 15.2 price-to-rent ratio, Des Moines is in the 'depends on horizon' zone. Buy if you'll be there 5+ years and value flexibility on the home; rent if you might move, want zero maintenance friction, or expect rates to drop.
How the momentum score breaks down
methodology →Des Moines has held up across the cycle: home values at $210,703 with +4.8% 5-year CAGR. The bull case is structural — population, location, employer base — and holds even if next year's print is soft.
Des Moines's bear case is the boring one: the cycle is real and any market that's run hard can stall. Watch for slowing population growth, rising days-on-market, or builder discounts as the early warning signals.
About Des Moines
Des Moines is a city in Polk County, Iowa, with an estimated population of 213,096. It anchors the Des Moines-West Des Moines metro area. The median home value in Des Moines is $210,703 as of 2026-04, up 0.6% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +4.8% annual growth, with prices at or near the 5-year peak. Rents in Des Moines average $1,156 per month, roughly flat year-over-year (+2.4%). The composite momentum score is 63 of 100 (Rising). The market is healthy with prices supported by underlying demand.
▲ Bull case
▼ Bear case
About Des Moines (Wikipedia)
Des Moines is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Iowa. It is named after the Des Moines River, likely derived from the French Rivière des Moines meaning 'River of the Monks'. The city was incorporated in 1851 as Fort Des Moines and shortened to Des Moines in 1857. Its population was 214,133 at the 2020 census. The six-county Des Moines metropolitan area has an estimated 750,000 residents, the largest metropolitan area located entirely in Iowa. It is the county seat of Polk County, with parts south of County Line Road extending into Warren County.
Source: Wikipedia · this summary is contributed and licensed under CC-BY-SA.
City facts
Extracted from the Wikipedia infobox. Values may be slightly out of date relative to the latest sources.
Things to see in Des Moines(Attractions)
- Iowa State Capitol
- Rhode Island State House
- USS ''Iowa''
- Civil War
- Spanish–American
- Korean
- Vietnam War
- State Capitol Building
- State of Iowa Historical Museum
- American Indian
- Terrace Hill
- John Deere
+18 more on Wikipedia.
Extracted from the Wikipedia article. Names linked in the source — open the city’s Wikipedia page for details.
Playbook
You're not in a frenzy but you're not getting bargains either. Make a competitive offer with normal inspection terms. Don't lowball — the listing will move with or without you.
Price at fair market value; expect movement in 30-45 days. Don't get clever with terms (rent-back, contingencies) — buyers in a Rising market have options.
Appreciation tailwind exists but cash flow requires discipline on price. Run the numbers conservatively and confirm rent comps before committing.
Local safety & alerts
No active National Weather Service alerts for Polk County right now.
Public-safety links are official .gov sources, not curated by us. Polk County routes NWS alerts; check the state EM portal for non-weather emergencies.
Neighborhoods of Des Moines
64 tracked · ranked by median home valueSee the full neighborhood ranking →
Cities like Des Moines
Run the numbers for Des Moines
Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.
Climate & natural-disaster risk
State-level averages from NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020) and FEMA National Risk Index. City-level conditions can vary significantly within a state.
Current weather
Find rentals & listings
Open current Des Moines listings on the major real-estate sites.
Links open the live search on the destination site — results are always current.
Local news & community
Latest news
- Des Moines prepares for budget shortfall as Reynolds signs property tax changes into lawIowa Public Radio · 2d ago
- Central Iowa city makes Best Places to Live list. What sets it apart?The Des Moines Register · 1d ago
- Iowa weather: Spotty showers early Thursday become more widespread FridayKCCI · 5h ago
- Downtown Des Moines road closures planned for weekend eventsWHO13.com · 12h ago
- ‘Diamond Diplomacy’ making Iowa premiere in Des MoinesYahoo · 8h ago
- Where to find free summer meals for children in central Iowaweareiowa.com · 7h ago
Local chatter (Reddit)
Updated 2026-05-21 from Google News + Reddit RSS. Headlines link to original sources.
Local sports teams
Major professional teams the Des Moines-West Des Moines area cheers for. Detailed stats, schedules, and player pages on intherafters.com.
Local economy & environment
Humidity is annual average relative humidity (NOAA). Income is Census ACS 5-year estimate. Industries are largest employment sectors statewide (BLS); the local mix in a given city may vary.
Cities similar to Des Moines
Explore other places with comparable momentum or affordability.