Rents are 2% below what West Des Moines's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,353 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
December. Asking rents in West Des Moines usually run 1.2% below trend in December and 1.2% above it in July, about $32 a month apart at today's median. Based on 10 years of data.
Rent in West Des Moines is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in May 2016.
Rent in West Des Moines changed +2.6% over the year to September 2026. Across the 26 Iowa cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.5%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in West Des Moines rose 21.8% while median household income rose 13.4% ($76,368 to $86,594). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in West Des Moines is 22.9% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 4 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($86,594) is $2,165 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,785).
Urbandale, 5 miles away, rents for 23% less ($1,038/mo), about $3,800 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for West Des Moines. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
West Des Moines, IA is majority owner-occupied, 54.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How West Des Moines, IA has changed in 5 years
Since 2021, the typical rent in West Des Moines, IA has climbed from $1,119 to $1,353, a 20.9% change over five years. Household income in the area moved from $76,564 to $86,594 across the same window, up 13.1% versus 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 5.1% since 2021, moving from about 67,640 residents to roughly 71,083. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in West Des Moines, IA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
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Can you afford rent in West Des Moines on your salary?
At $1,353/mo, how West Des Moines rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
West Des Moines rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in West Des Moines. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in West Des Moines
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in West Des Moines is $1,353/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,040/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,325/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,110/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,775/mo.
At 19% of local median household income ($86,594/yr), West Des Moines ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.6% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than West Des Moines?
At $1,353/mo, rent takes ~19% of West Des Moines's median household income ($86,594/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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