ZIP Code · IA

ZIP 50312

Part of Des Moines, IA

Pop. 15,802·Polk County·31st most expensive ZIP in Iowa

Median rent (all units)

$1,144/mo

Year-over-Year

+1.0%

Month-over-Month

+0.3%

vs US Median

-$788

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 50312 · $1,144

More affordable than 94% 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

$1,010

1 BR

$1,050

2 BR

$1,250

3 BR

$1,700

4 BR+

$1,750

Research median

$1,250/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 50312 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2023.

Past year vs. the rest of Iowa

Rent in ZIP 50312 changed +1.0% over the year to September 2026. Across the 45 Iowa ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.3%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 6 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($92,242) is $2,306 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,750).

Rank in Des Moines

6th cheapest of 8 ZIP codes in Des Moines.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 50311, 1 mile away, rents for 18% less ($942/mo), about $2,400 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 50312. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$13,728/yr

At $1,144/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 (+1.0% YoY, +0.3% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 50312 (Des Moines, IA) is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 61.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

15,802

Median income

$92,242

Median age

40.3

Renters

36.3%

Age distribution

19.6%

21.6%

28.8%

19.5%

Under 1819.6%

18–3421.6%

35–5428.8%

55–6410.5%

65+19.5%

Gender

51.1%

48.9%

Male51.1%

Female48.9%

Race & ethnicity

82.3%

White82.3%

Black4.1%

Hispanic5.4%

Asian4.7%

Other3.5%

Education (25+)

14.8%

22.4%

61.2%

No HS diploma1.7%

HS diploma14.8%

Some college22.4%

Bachelor's+61.2%

Housing tenure

63.7%

36.3%

Owner63.7%

Renter36.3%

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

2023 vs 2026

How ZIP 50312 in Des Moines, IA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,033 → $1,144

up 10.7%

Income

$69,757 → $92,242

up 32.2%

Population

15,740 → 15,802

up 0.4%

Renter share

36% → 36.3%

+0.3 pts

Bachelor's+

60.5% → 61.2%

+0.7 pts

Compared with 2023, rent in ZIP 50312 in Des Moines, IA has increased by $111 per month, settling near $1,144 after starting the period at $1,033. Household income in the area moved from $69,757 to $92,242 across the same window, up 32.2% versus 2021. Income growth outran rent by about 21.5 percentage points, easing the affordability math somewhat compared with 2021. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in ZIP 50312 in Des Moines, IA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.

Community

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 50312

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 50312 covers Des Moines, IA. The median rent here is $1,144/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,050/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,250/mo.

At 15% of local median household income ($92,242/yr), ZIP 50312 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.0% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 50312?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $46,000/year (about $22/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,144/mo in ZIP 50312. The local median household income is $92,242/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 50312?

Rent in ZIP 50312 has risen 1.0% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2023.

How does ZIP 50312 compare to other ZIPs in Iowa?

ZIP 50312 is in the middle among Iowa ZIP codes for rent, ranking #31 of 54 at $1,144/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 50312 changed +1.0%, against a typical +4.3% across the 45 Iowa ZIP codes Zillow tracks.