Housing Value★★★★★★★★★★2.5 / 5Home values compared with local household income.
Living in Des Moines, WA
Explore Des Moines and see how it fits the life you want to build.
Overall Match6.8 / 10
Baseline match from currently available location scores. Choose priorities to personalize it.
Des Moines at a Glance
Key facts and current data
Population32,823
Median Household Income$92,483
Median Home Value$597,000
Median Gross Rent$1,799
Median Age38.0
Average Household Size2.7
Unemployment7.5%
Work From Home14.7%
Homeownership60.6%
Housing Vacancy4.8%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year.
Des Moines is a mid-sized community where local neighborhoods, nearby job centers and regional access can matter as much as citywide averages. Housing costs are high relative to local household income, making affordability one of the more important factors to examine before relocating here. Unemployment is elevated enough that job location and industry-specific opportunities deserve closer review.
Experience the Area
Experience Life in Des Moines Before You Move
Explore Short-Term Stays in Des Moines →Stay options powered by Stay22 · affiliate
NarrowTheList highly recommends you spend a week or two in Des Moines and experience everyday life before deciding whether it is the right place to call home. Use that time to explore neighborhoods, drive your normal routes, shop where residents shop, and get a feel for the area at different times of day.
NarrowTheList Ratings
Data-driven starter ratings. More categories appear automatically as new datasets are added.
Housing & Cost of Living in Des Moines
Current housing indicators from the U.S. Census Bureau
Median Home Value$597,000
Median Gross Rent$1,799
Homeownership60.6%
Housing Vacancy4.8%
Home values are relatively high compared with local household income, so purchase affordability deserves close attention. The housing mix leans toward owner-occupied homes while still supporting a meaningful rental market.
Jobs, Income & Remote Work
Employment and household-income context for Des Moines, WA
Median Household Income$92,483
Unemployment7.5%
Work From Home14.7%
The reported unemployment rate is elevated enough to warrant a closer look at current local employment conditions. A meaningful share of employed residents work from home.
Population & Household Profile
Who lives in Des Moines and how households are structured
Population32,823
Median Age38.0
Average Household Size2.7
Des Moines is a smaller community, so its relationship with nearby towns, employment centers and services can be especially important.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year. NarrowTheList presents these values as relocation context; conditions can vary within a community.
Climate & Weather in Des Moines
Long-term NOAA climate normals and practical seasonal context
NOAA climate normals for Des Moines point to warm summers, cool winters, a wetter annual rainfall pattern and occasional snowfall.
Average Summer High77.4°F
Average Winter Low37.7°F
Annual Rainfall39.3 in.
Annual Snowfall6.3 in.
Seasonal Life in Des Moines
What the long-term climate pattern may mean for everyday living.
Spring
Spring is a useful time to evaluate how quickly outdoor conditions become comfortable and how seasonal rain affects everyday routines.
Summer
Summer highs are comparatively mild, which may reduce cooling demands and can make daytime outdoor activity more comfortable than in hotter inland locations.
Fall
Fall can be one of the best seasons for comparing neighborhoods because daily routines are active while temperatures transition away from summer conditions.
Winter
Winter is generally cool with limited snowfall. Heating needs still matter, but snow-related disruption should be less central than in colder markets.
Source: NOAA/NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020. Seasonal descriptions are relocation context derived from the available long-term normals, not a forecast.
Des Moines is located in King County, but city-level housing, income and neighborhood conditions can differ meaningfully from countywide averages. King County.
County Intelligence
Des Moines & King County
Data Pending
Foreclosure Activity
Des Moines is located in King County, Washington.
NarrowTheList uses county-level information alongside local community data because many factors that matter when choosing a place to live are measured beyond city boundaries. Housing, property taxes, employment, healthcare access and other regional characteristics can add useful context to the picture of life in Des Moines.
Current NarrowTheList data for Des Moines shows a population of about 32,823. These local figures become more useful when read together with county-level tax, housing, foreclosure and demographic conditions rather than treated as isolated city statistics.
Foreclosure Activity: Data Pending. A county-specific foreclosure signal is not available yet.
For someone comparing homes, county boundaries can matter because taxes, public services, court and recording systems, assessment practices and housing-market conditions are often administered or reported at the county level. NarrowTheList keeps that county relationship attached to the community so future tax, foreclosure, housing and demographic data can be interpreted in the correct geographic context.
County relationship
King County
How NarrowTheList uses it
County information is used as a supporting geographic layer, not as a substitute for local data. As more county datasets are added, NarrowTheList can use them to improve comparisons, ratings and relocation insights for Des Moines.
For someone considering a move to Des Moines, the available data currently points to housing affordability that deserves careful budgeting and employment conditions that make job-specific research important. These signals are most useful when considered alongside the specific neighborhood, commute and housing type that fit the household making the move.
Nearby Cities & Communities
Nearby incorporated cities, towns, villages and other municipalities shown by straight-line distance.