ZIP Code · IA

ZIP 50311

Part of Des Moines, IA

Pop. 14,574·Polk County·47th most expensive ZIP in Iowa

Median rent (all units)

$942/mo

Year-over-Year

+1.4%

Month-over-Month

-0.1%

vs US Median

-$990

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 50311 · $942

More affordable than 99% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$930

1 BR

$970

2 BR

$1,150

3 BR

$1,570

4 BR+

$1,610

Research median

$1,150/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

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 50311 is 0.1% below its high of $943 in June 2026, at $942 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of Iowa

Rent in ZIP 50311 changed +1.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 45 Iowa ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.3%.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 5 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($61,957) is $1,549 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,150); a 3-bedroom is $1,570.

Rank in Des Moines

2nd cheapest of 8 ZIP codes in Des Moines.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 50311. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$11,304/yr

At $942/mo median

Location

CityDes Moines

StateIA

CountyPolk County

Rent Market Meter

Balanced Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.

Based on rent-price momentum (+1.4% YoY, -0.1% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 50311 (Des Moines, IA) is roughly split between renters and owners, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 43.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

14,574

Median income

$61,957

Median age

30.8

Renters

51.6%

Age distribution

16.4%

41.1%

23.1%

Under 1816.4%

18–3441.1%

35–5423.1%

55–648.7%

65+10.7%

Gender

49.9%

50.1%

Male49.9%

Female50.1%

Race & ethnicity

72.6%

White72.6%

Black10.9%

Hispanic7.6%

Asian3.8%

Other5.1%

Education (25+)

20.9%

30.6%

43.5%

No HS diploma5%

HS diploma20.9%

Some college30.6%

Bachelor's+43.5%

Housing tenure

48.4%

51.6%

Owner48.4%

Renter51.6%

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

2022 vs 2026

How ZIP 50311 in Des Moines, IA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$858 → $942

up 9.8%

Income

$57,065 → $61,957

up 8.6%

Population

15,979 → 14,574

down 8.8%

Renter share

51.9% → 51.6%

-0.3 pts

Bachelor's+

41.5% → 43.5%

+2.0 pts

Median age

29.7 → 30.8

+1.1 yrs

Rent in ZIP 50311 in Des Moines, IA has climbed 9.8% since 2022, going from about $858 per month to roughly $942 today. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $57,065 in 2021 to $61,957 more recently. Headcount in the area went from 15,979 to 14,574 between 2021 and 2024, a 8.8% change. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 41.5% to 43.5%. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the ZIP 50311 in Des Moines, IA market of 2022.

Community

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 50311

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 50311 covers Des Moines, IA. The median rent here is $942/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $970/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,150/mo.

At 18% of local median household income ($61,957/yr), ZIP 50311 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.4% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 50311?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $38,000/year (about $18/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $942/mo in ZIP 50311. The local median household income is $61,957/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 50311?

Rent in ZIP 50311 has risen 1.4% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 0.1% below its high of $943 in June 2026.

How does ZIP 50311 compare to other ZIPs in Iowa?

ZIP 50311 is one of the more affordable among Iowa ZIP codes for rent, ranking #47 of 54 at $942/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 50311 changed +1.4%, against a typical +4.3% across the 45 Iowa ZIP codes Zillow tracks.