ZIP Code · IA

ZIP 50309

Part of Des Moines, IA

Pop. 10,110·Polk County·25th most expensive ZIP in Iowa

Median rent (all units)

$1,261/mo

Year-over-Year

+2.4%

Month-over-Month

+0.8%

vs US Median

-$671

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 50309 · $1,261

More affordable than 88% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,110

1 BR

$1,150

2 BR

$1,370

3 BR

$1,860

4 BR+

$1,910

Research median

$1,370/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Cheapest month to sign

February. Asking rents in ZIP 50309 usually run 1.7% below trend in February and 2% above it in July, about $47 a month apart at today's median. Based on 7 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 50309 is 1.4% below its high of $1,279 in April 2023, at $1,261 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of Iowa

Rent in ZIP 50309 changed +2.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 45 Iowa ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.3%.

Rent vs. income since 2019

From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 50309 rose 5.9% while median household income rose 15.3% ($49,240 to $56,777). Income kept ahead of rent.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in ZIP 50309 is 6.1% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 7 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($56,777) is $1,419 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,370); a 3-bedroom is $1,860.

Rank in Des Moines

8th cheapest of 8 ZIP codes in Des Moines.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 50314, 2 miles away, rents for 14% less ($1,082/mo), about $2,100 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 50309. 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.

Annual cost

$15,132/yr

At $1,261/mo median

Location

CityDes Moines

StateIA

CountyPolk County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (2.4% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+2.4% YoY, +0.8% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 50309 (Des Moines, IA) is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 61.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

10,110

Median income

$56,777

Median age

28.4

Renters

89.4%

Age distribution

62.7%

15.9%

Under 186.5%

18–3462.7%

35–5415.9%

55–648.3%

65+6.6%

Gender

52%

48%

Male52%

Female48%

Race & ethnicity

66.6%

17%

White66.6%

Black17%

Hispanic8.9%

Asian3.7%

Other3.8%

Education (25+)

12.8%

19.1%

61.5%

No HS diploma6.5%

HS diploma12.8%

Some college19.1%

Bachelor's+61.5%

Housing tenure

89.4%

Owner10.6%

Renter89.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 50309 in Des Moines, IA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,169 → $1,261

up 7.9%

Income

$51,241 → $56,777

up 10.8%

Population

9,117 → 10,110

up 10.9%

Renter share

88.2% → 89.4%

+1.2 pts

Bachelor's+

60.9% → 61.5%

+0.6 pts

Median age

30.2 → 28.4

-1.8 yrs

Since 2021, the typical rent in ZIP 50309 in Des Moines, IA has climbed from $1,169 to $1,261, a 7.9% change over five years. Census figures show median household income at $56,777 today, compared with $51,241 five years earlier. The population has grown by 10.9% since 2021, moving from about 9,117 residents to roughly 10,110. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.

Community

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 50309

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 50309 covers Des Moines, IA. The median rent here is $1,261/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,150/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,370/mo.

At 27% of local median household income ($56,777/yr), ZIP 50309 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.4% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 50309?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $50,000/year (about $24/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,261/mo in ZIP 50309. The local median household income is $56,777/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 50309?

Rent in ZIP 50309 has risen 2.4% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 1.4% below its high of $1,279 in April 2023.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 50309?

Asking rents in ZIP 50309 are usually lowest in February, about 1.7% below their yearly trend, and highest in July, about 2% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $47 a month. This pattern comes from 7 years of Zillow rent data.

Has rent outpaced income in ZIP 50309?

No. From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 50309 rose 5.9% while median household income rose 15.3%, from $49,240 to $56,777. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

How does ZIP 50309 compare to other ZIPs in Iowa?

ZIP 50309 is in the middle among Iowa ZIP codes for rent, ranking #25 of 54 at $1,261/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 50309 changed +2.4%, against a typical +4.3% across the 45 Iowa ZIP codes Zillow tracks.