Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Des Moines, IA

    Is Des Moines a good place to live?

    Watch Des Moines

    Des Moines ranks #17 of 19 Iowa cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (28/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population fell 0.3% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $183,700
    +7.6% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,054
    per month
    Household income
    $63,966
    median
    Unemployment
    5.7%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Des Moines

    The median home value in Des Moines is $183,700 and median rent is $1,054 a month, against a median household income of $63,966. Homes cost about 2.9× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Des Moines crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Iowa the 2025 rate was 238 violent and 1,205 property crimes per 100,000 people — #40 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Des Moines, IA

    Des Moines has about 212,464 residents, 5.7% unemployment and 20% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Des Moines with

    Des Moines vs Cedar RapidsDes Moines vs DavenportDes Moines vs Sioux CityDes Moines vs Iowa CityDes Moines vs AnkenyDes Moines vs West Des MoinesDes Moines vs WaterlooDes Moines vs Ames

    More: Where to move in Iowa · Best counties in Iowa

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report