Rents are right about where Des Moines's 10-year trend predicts.
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 $2,084 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: August 17, 2026
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Who lives here
Des Moines, WA is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 33.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Des Moines, WA has changed in 5 years
Rent in Des Moines, WA has climbed 20.4% since 2022, going from about $1,731 per month to roughly $2,084 today. Census figures show median household income at $92,483 today, compared with $73,131 five years earlier. Income growth outran rent by about 6.1 percentage points, easing the affordability math somewhat compared with 2021. About 39.4% of households rent today, against 41.1% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 29.4% to 33.4%. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2022.
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Can you afford rent in Des Moines on your salary?
At $2,084/mo, how Des Moines rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Des Moines rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Des Moines. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Des Moines
Last updated: August 17, 2026
The median rent in Des Moines is $2,084/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,990/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,390/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,050/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,160/mo.
At 27% of local median household income ($92,483/yr), Des Moines ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.8% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
Is Des Moines an affordable city for renters?
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Is rent going up or down in Des Moines?
How does Des Moines rent compare to other cities in Washington?
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What percentage of Des Moines residents rent vs. own?
How does Des Moines rent compare to the national average?
At $2,084/mo, rent takes ~27% of Des Moines's median household income ($92,483/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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