ZIP Code · IA

ZIP 50315

Part of Des Moines, IA

Pop. 34,816·Polk County·37th most expensive ZIP in Iowa

Median rent (all units)

$1,073/mo

Year-over-Year

+2.7%

Month-over-Month

+0.5%

vs US Median

-$859

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 50315 · $1,073

More affordable than 96% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$990

1 BR

$1,030

2 BR

$1,230

3 BR

$1,670

4 BR+

$1,720

Research median

$1,230/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

January. Asking rents in ZIP 50315 usually run 1.7% below trend in January and 1.5% above it in July, about $34 a month apart at today's median. Based on 5 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 50315 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in November 2020.

Past year vs. the rest of Iowa

Rent in ZIP 50315 changed +2.7% 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 4 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($60,590) is $1,515 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,230); a 3-bedroom is $1,670.

Rank in Des Moines

4th cheapest of 8 ZIP codes in Des Moines.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 50311, 5 miles away, rents for 12% less ($942/mo), about $1,600 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 50315. 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

$12,876/yr

At $1,073/mo median

Location

CityDes Moines

StateIA

CountyPolk County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (2.7% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+2.7% YoY, +0.5% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 50315 (Des Moines, IA) is majority owner-occupied, has a median income below the national average, 20.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

34,816

Median income

$60,590

Median age

35.4

Renters

38.5%

Age distribution

22.9%

26.6%

23.8%

13%

13.6%

Under 1822.9%

18–3426.6%

35–5423.8%

55–6413%

65+13.6%

Gender

48.2%

51.8%

Male48.2%

Female51.8%

Race & ethnicity

69.4%

19.3%

White69.4%

Black7.1%

Hispanic19.3%

Asian3.4%

Other0.8%

Education (25+)

12.3%

36%

31.6%

20.1%

No HS diploma12.3%

HS diploma36%

Some college31.6%

Bachelor's+20.1%

Housing tenure

61.5%

38.5%

Owner61.5%

Renter38.5%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 50315 in Des Moines, IA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$851 → $1,073

up 26.1%

Income

$55,459 → $60,590

up 9.3%

Population

35,698 → 34,816

down 2.5%

Renter share

39.1% → 38.5%

-0.6 pts

Bachelor's+

18% → 20.1%

+2.1 pts

Median age

37.3 → 35.4

-1.9 yrs

The median rent in ZIP 50315 in Des Moines, IA stood at $851 in 2021 and currently runs about $1,073, reflecting a 26.1% increase over the period. Household income in the area moved from $55,459 to $60,590 across the same window, up 9.3% versus 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has contracted by 2.5% since 2021, moving from about 35,698 residents to roughly 34,816. College-educated residents now make up 20.1% of adults here, versus 18% in 2021. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in ZIP 50315 in Des Moines, IA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.

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About renting in ZIP 50315

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 50315 covers Des Moines, IA. The median rent here is $1,073/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,030/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,230/mo.

At 21% of local median household income ($60,590/yr), ZIP 50315 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.7% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 50315?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $43,000/year (about $21/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,073/mo in ZIP 50315. The local median household income is $60,590/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 50315?

Rent in ZIP 50315 has risen 2.7% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in November 2020.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 50315?

Asking rents in ZIP 50315 are usually lowest in January, about 1.7% below their yearly trend, and highest in July, about 1.5% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $34 a month. This pattern comes from 5 years of Zillow rent data.

How does ZIP 50315 compare to other ZIPs in Iowa?

ZIP 50315 is one of the more affordable among Iowa ZIP codes for rent, ranking #37 of 54 at $1,073/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 50315 changed +2.7%, against a typical +4.3% across the 45 Iowa ZIP codes Zillow tracks.