Living in Des Moines, IA
Mid-size city in Iowa
Des Moines is a mid-size city in Iowa, home to about 212,000 people, with 650,000 living within 31 mi. Day to day, there is some transit, though many people drive. Life moves at a relaxed pace, and homes are a mix of apartments and houses.
Is Des Moines a good place to live? Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- Affordable housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $225k and rents for $1,790 a month
- Mild summers: highs around 84°F
- Dog-friendly: 18 dog parks within 9 mi
- Low natural disaster risk: 10 federally declared disasters since 2000
👎 Cons
- Fewer outdoor escapes: no big hills or water close by
- Smaller job market: about 650,000 people live within 31 mi
- Fewer graduates: 29% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher
- Higher taxes: about $1,192 state income tax per resident, 1.88% property tax
Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Des Moines ranks against your own priorities.
Key facts
Living in Des Moines: common questions
What is the cost of living in Des Moines?
A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $225k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $1,790 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are below the US average (index 92, where the US is 100).
What are taxes like in Des Moines?
Iowa collects about $1,192 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 1.88% of their home's value in property tax each year.
Is Des Moines safe?
Violent crime is well above the national rate (1.9× in FBI 2019 data).
What is the weather like in Des Moines?
Des Moines has cold winters: winter days average around 34°F and summer days around 84°F, with roughly 37″ of snow a year.
Does Des Moines get natural disasters?
Natural disaster risk is low, mainly from flooding and tornadoes: 10 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.67 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.
What is the nearest major airport to Des Moines?
The nearest major airport is DSM, about 4 mi away.
How Des Moines scores
Each bar compares Des Moines with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).
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Is Des Moines right for you?
Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.