Housing decision brief
Des Moines County, IA Housing Market
Des Moines County screens as a below-state purchase price, rent that needs comparison, a higher tax-rate signal market. Use the page as a decision brief, not just a price lookup, because local income, taxes, and data confidence change how affordable the county really is.
24th lowest home value out of 99 Iowa counties with data | 79th lowest rent out of 99
Median home value
$136,500
Purchase-price signal from Census ACS.
Median rent
$904/mo
Gross rent, including utilities where reported.
Monthly owner cost
$887/mo
Owner costs before individual loan terms.
Decision snapshot
Read this county in four signals.
Buy screen
2.2x
Median home value divided by local household income.
Rent burden
30.9%
At or above the 30% burden threshold.
Rent vs own
$17/mo
Median owner cost screens below median rent.
Data confidence
1 note
Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
What Works
Lower purchase price
$136,500 median home value is 15% below Iowa county median
Owning screens cheaper than renting
Median owner costs are $17/mo below median rent before individual mortgage terms.
What to Check
Lower income base
$62,928 median income is 12% below Iowa county median
Tax rate needs attention
1.51% effective property-tax rate is 14% above Iowa county median
Crime data coverage
Crime data coverage is partial. Treat zero or low crime rates as incomplete until you check the source coverage.
Best Fit For
- Buyers comparing homes to local incomes
- Households weighing ownership against renting
- Remote earners or cash buyers looking below the state price line
Poor Fit For
- Households dependent on a deep local wage market
- Buyers focused only on purchase price and ignoring annual property tax
- Anyone treating reported crime rates as complete without source context
County vs State vs National
The county number only matters after you see the benchmark. These comparisons show where Des Moines County is genuinely cheap, where it is average, and where the hidden cost may be.
| Metric | County | State | U.S. | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Median home value Lower usually helps affordability. | $136,500 | $160,600 | $281,900 | 15% favorable15% below Iowa county median |
Median gross rent Lower usually helps affordability. | $904 | $820 | $1,163 | 10% pressure10% above Iowa county median |
Monthly owner cost Lower usually helps affordability. | $887 | $907 | $1,672 | Near state median2% below Iowa county median |
Median household income | $62,928 | $71,223 | $74,755 | 12% pressure12% below Iowa county median |
Effective property-tax rate Lower usually helps affordability. | 1.51% | 1.32% | 1.02% | 14% pressure14% above Iowa county median |
Rent burden Lower usually helps affordability. | 30.90% | 25.20% | N/A | 23% pressure30.90% of renter income goes to rent. |
Income Fit
A low price only helps if local income can carry the monthly cost. This panel compares the county income base with rent and owner-cost thresholds.
Rent cushion
+$26,768
Median income minus rent threshold.
Owner cushion
+$24,914
Median income minus owner-cost threshold.
Affordability Advisory
This turns the raw housing numbers into income and buy-versus-rent screens.
Affordability verdict
For renters in Des Moines County, the market is affordable. Expect to pay around $908/month in gross rent, with 33.0% of renter households considered cost-burdened.
Rent vs own
Renters in Des Moines County pay $908/month on average, compared to $930/month for homeowners. This market favors renters by about 2%.
Income needed
To afford the median rent without exceeding 30% of gross income, a household needs to earn approximately $36,320/year. For owner costs at the 28% rule, the required income is roughly $39,857/year. With a median household income of $60,662, most households can comfortably afford rent here. Notably, 33.0% of renter households in Des Moines County are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of income on housing.
Regional context
Within Iowa, Des Moines County is less affordable than Black Hawk County by roughly 6% ($908/mo vs $962/mo).
Better Counties to Compare
Similar counties are matched on home value, rent, income, and state context. This is more useful than a simple nearest-price list.
| County | Home Value | Rent | Why compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayette County, IA | $136,800 | $881/mo | Same-state comparison near $136,800 home value and $881/mo rent. |
| Lee County, IA | $141,400 | $835/mo | Same-state comparison near $141,400 home value and $835/mo rent. |
| Wapello County, IA | $125,100 | $920/mo | Same-state comparison near $125,100 home value and $920/mo rent. |
| Adams County, IA | $131,600 | $893/mo | Same-state comparison near $131,600 home value and $893/mo rent. |
| Monona County, IA | $142,900 | $855/mo | Same-state comparison near $142,900 home value and $855/mo rent. |
Data Confidence
- Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
Next Checks
Housing Questions for Des Moines County
Is Des Moines County affordable for buying a home?
Is renting or owning cheaper in Des Moines County?
How much income do you need for housing in Des Moines County?
What should I double-check before moving to Des Moines County?
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023) — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.