Markets › Des Moines
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Des Moines IA Apartment Market Read
Covers Des Moines and West Des Moines.
Current market read
Landlord’s market
ConditionFirm
The yearly data still reads a landlord's market, but the monthly figures, asking rents and jobs are cooling.
From public data. The situation now, not a forecast.
Renter Google searchabout 1,300 searches in September 2026 · HousesSee read → What renters Google mostHousesSee all →
Renter Google Search InterestGoogle · monthly
About 1,300 searches in September 2026, for Des Moines on its own
November is usually one of the quietest months for renter searches here.
Attention, not a verdict. Google searches for apartments to rent.
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The day asking rent growth (now +2.0%) or job growth (now 0.0%) moves half a point, you get an email. Plus two years of history and the report.
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Momentum · which way it's movingRENT + JOBS · UPDATED MONTHLY
Cooling
Job growth has cooled (September 2026).
Job growthBLS · SEPTEMBER 2026, PRELIMINARY
0.0%
▲ Hiring, past 12 months
Job growth · 12 months
Oct 2025 to Sep 2026, with Pro
VacancyCENSUS · 2024
Share of rentals sitting empty. A yearly count, last taken 2024, not what sets the condition.
Asking rentZILLOW · MONTHLY
$1,162 a month
September 2026, ▲ up 2.0% on September 2025
Data Provided by Zillow Group
Asking rent · 24 months
Oct 2024 to Sep 2026, with Pro
Census 2024: +3.6% · US avg +4.6%
Median rentCENSUS · 2024
$1,178/mo
Typical rent. A yearly count, last taken 2024
Median rent · 8 yearly counts
2017 to 2025, no 2020, with Pro
In the news · Des MoinesNEWS · DAILY
Latest local coverage, 1 week ago. softer neutral firmer
Rob Sand Highlights Plans to Lower Housing Costs and Strengthen Rural Iowa on “Iowa for All” Tour$6.4 million awarded to expand affordable housing in Des Moines, DubuqueIowa Finance Authority Awards More Than $6.4 Million to Expand Housing and Support Services for Iowans Experiencing or at Risk of HomelessnessView all 4 Des Moines news →Demand vs supplyCENSUS + BLS
Moderate demand
DEMAND
Jobs0.0%
Migration 2025+3.7/1k
SUPPLY
Permits 2025+119%
Vacancy 20246.7%
Rent vs buyWEEKLY RATE · 2024 RENT
+$1,147/mo
Cheaper to rent than buying
rent $1,178 · own $2,325
$1,178RENT
$2,325OWN
Domestic migrationCENSUS · 2025
+3.7/1k
▲ More people moved in from elsewhere in the US than left. A yearly count, last taken 2025.
OUTFLOWINFLOW
Census · BLS · FRED · Zillow · news
For information only. Not investment advice. AI-written summaries can make mistakes.