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Living in Des Moines

There were 14,276 physicians per 100,000 residents in 2026. Des Moines is in the United States; its population was 32,823 in July 2026. 69.4% of renter households spent at least 30% of income on housing in July 2026.

Last checked 2026-09-1939 sources

Population33,032people31 Dec 2025Official source · U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program
Median gross salary3,777EUR/month31 Dec 2024Community source · Census Reporter ACS 2020-2024 5-year, table B20002 (underlying U.S. Census Bureau ACS)
Median rent1,581EUR/month31 Dec 2024Independent source · Census Reporter mirror of ACS 2024 5-year tables
Unemployment rate7.47%31 Dec 2024Independent source · Census Reporter mirror of ACS 2024 5-year tables
Recorded crime3,146offences per 100,000country median 1,586 — 98% aboveOfficial source · FBI Crime Data Explorer / Uniform Crime Reporting
PM2.5, annual mean5.21µg/m³country median 7.0 — 26% belowOfficial source · EPA AQS annual PM2.5 monitor data 2024

More recorded crime than 84% of American cities that publish it and cleaner air than 88% of American cities that publish it.

Which United States-wide rules apply when you move to Des Moines?

National rules stay on the country page instead of being relabelled as city data.

Housing and cost

Median gross rent was US$1,799 per month, while the median home value was US$597,000 in July 2026. Owner occupation was 60.7%, and the vacancy rate was 4.81% in July 2026.

What recurs every month2 published recurring costs, € per month
Des Moines recurring monthly costs, € per month

€ / month

Internet, 60 Mbps€60
Mobile plan, 10 GB€22
MetricValuePeriodSource
Internet, 60 Mbps unlimited60.38 EUR/month30 Sept 2026Verizon 300 Mbps home internet22Official · national market
Mobile plan, 10 GB21.57 EUR/month30 Sept 2026Visible unlimited mobile plan23Official · national market
Median gross rent$1,799/month4 Jul 2026ACS median gross rent5Official
Households spending over 30% of income on rent69.4 %4 Jul 2026ACS median gross rent5Official
Housing vacancy rate (legacy series)4.81 %4 Jul 2026ACS median gross rent5Official
Property crime per 100,000 residents3,079 per 100,000 people1 Jul 2026FBI CDE/UCR crime statistics13Official
Average monthly rent (whole dwelling)1,806 EUR/month31 Dec 2020ACS 2020-2024 5-year table-based Summary File, tables B25065 (Aggregate Gross Rent) and B25063 (Gross Rent, units with cash rent)3Official
Median monthly rent1,581 EUR/month31 Dec 2024Census Reporter mirror of ACS 2024 5-year tables30Supplemental estimate · Supplemental context
Recorded property crimes740 offenses/year31 Dec 2025FBI CIUS Table 8 by City 2025 (CDE offenses-known-to-le-2025.zip)14Official

Is Des Moines a good place to live?

There is no universal answer. The profile scores below show who the available published evidence may suit; they are a decision aid, not a personal recommendation.

Try your profile
Remote worker52%strong on work, weak on safety · range 44–60%
Skilled employee56%strong on work, weak on safety · range 47–65%
Student45%strong on education, weak on work · range 35–55%
Family42%strong on family, weak on cost · range 33–51%
Retirement46%strong on air quality, weak on admin · range 36–56%

Worked out from these numbers

How international is the population?

25.9% of residents hold a foreign nationality — 8,544 of 33,032 people. This counts nationality, not place of birth, so long-settled residents who naturalised are not in it.

Uses a supplemental estimate, so treat it as indicative.

Work and income

Median household income was US$92,483 a year in July 2026.

Unemployment across cities in United StatesUnemployment in Des Moines is 7.5%. Of 2,153 cities with data, 1,250 have unemployment of 0 to under 5%.

Unemployment rate (%)

MetricValuePeriodSource
Median household income92,483 USD/year4 Jul 2026ACS total population6Official
Households with cable, fibre or DSL broadband75.56 %4 Jul 2026ACS total population6Official
Households with a broadband subscription93.41 %4 Jul 2026ACS total population6Official
Households with internet but no subscription2.55 %4 Jul 2026ACS total population6Official
Households without internet3.96 %4 Jul 2026ACS total population6Official
Households with satellite internet3.53 %4 Jul 2026ACS total population6Official
Median gross salary3,777 EUR/month31 Dec 2024Census Reporter ACS 2020-2024 5-year, table B20002 (underlying U.S. Census Bureau ACS)29Community estimate · Supplemental context
Median gross salary (regional)5,365 EUR/month31 Dec 2025www.bls.gov28Official
Unemployment rate7.47 %31 Dec 2024Census Reporter mirror of ACS 2024 5-year tables30Supplemental estimate · Supplemental context

What does a salary buy in Des Moines?

Take-home pay after tax, minus rent and the everyday bills this city publishes. Each line names its source.

regional median gross pay: €5,365 (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025-12-31).
Left over each month€2,166of €4,054 take-home
  • Rent
  • Internet
  • Mobile
  • Left over
Line-by-line breakdown and sources
Each month€
Take-home payOECD Taxing Wages 2025, single, no children. Includes central and local income tax and employee social contributions; euro amounts at the ECB average for 2026-08.€4,054
Rentaverage rent of a whole dwelling · official · ACS 2020-2024 5-year table-based Summary File, tables B25065 (Aggregate Gross Rent) and B25063 (Gross Rent, units with cash rent) · 2020-12-31− €1,806
Internet€60 · official · Verizon 300 Mbps home internet · 2026-09-30− €60
Mobile plan€22 · official · Visible unlimited mobile plan · 2026-09-30− €22
Other everyday billsnot published for this city: public transport pass, utilities—
Left overbefore the bills this city does not publish€2,166
Take-home pay for other salaries and households Compare with another city Check a job offer in Des Moines Salary needed to live in Des Moines

Public employment service

No exact public employment office is currently linked to Des Moines. The verified national service may still offer online registration, job search or an official office finder.

Country-level information

American Job Centers — Public employment service

U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration

Job Search

Country-level service information is not treated as proof of a physical office in Des Moines. Sources checked through 10 Aug 2026.

Family and education

MetricValuePeriodSource
Residents with high school education or higher89.47 %4 Jul 2026ACS median gross rent5Official
Schools88 schools30 Jun 2026NCES CCD public school count17Official source, approximated value · Supplemental context · school district
School enrolment, share of residents22.88 %4 Jul 2026ACS median gross rent5Official

Healthcare

MetricValuePeriodSource
Mental health provider ratio522 ratio30 Jun 2026HRSA mental health provider ratio16Official
Primary care doctors per 100,000 residents14,276 per 100,000 people30 Jun 2026HRSA mental health provider ratio16Official
Preventable hospitalizations1,706 per 100,000 people30 Jun 2026HRSA mental health provider ratio16Official

Yes — migrants can receive medical care in Des Moines when the national insurance or residence conditions are met.

Healthcare access follows the country-wide insurance rules; local capacity facts remain city data and are not used as proof of eligibility.

Open the official coverage guide
Country rule verified 2026-08-03.

Safety

Recorded crime across major citiesDes Moines highlighted among comparable cities
Recorded crime across major cities with Des Moines highlighted

recorded incidents per 100k residents

Philadelphia5,457
Houston5,442
San Antonio5,218
Chicago4,012
Dallas4,010
Des Moines3,829
Austin3,709
Fort Worth3,158
Phoenix3,125
New York City3,039
Los Angeles2,212
San Diego2,082
MetricValuePeriodSource
Recorded incidents per 100,000 residents3,146 offences per 100,000country median 1,58631 Dec 2024FBI Crime Data Explorer / Uniform Crime Reporting15Official
Violent crime per 100,000 residents262.9 per 100,000 people1 Jul 2026FBI CDE/UCR crime statistics13Official
Recorded violent crimes77 offenses/year31 Dec 2025FBI CIUS Table 8 by City 2025 (CDE offenses-known-to-le-2025.zip)14Official

Mobility and administration

MetricValuePeriodSource
Average commute time30.82 minutes4 Jul 2026ACS total population6Official
Workers commuting by bicycle0.21 %4 Jul 2026ACS total population6Official
Workers commuting by public transport4.58 %4 Jul 2026ACS total population6Official
Workers walking to work2.34 %4 Jul 2026ACS total population6Official
Destinations from nearest airport90 count3 Aug 2026OpenFlights19Official
Nearest airportSEA3 Aug 2026OurAirports20Official
Distance to nearest airport5 km3 Aug 2026OurAirports20Official

Language courses and integration

No exact city-level course record is currently published for Des Moines. These verified national programmes may still apply; use the official programme page to check local availability.

Country-level information

Adult Education and English Language Acquisition (AEFLA) — State Language Course

U.S. Department of Education

For adult learners, adult English-language learners.

EnglishIn Person, Online, HybridCost varies

USCIS English and citizenship class finder — Civic Orientation

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

For immigrants, future citizens.

EnglishIn Person, OnlineCost varies
National programme information is not treated as proof of a course location in Des Moines.

Find courses near Des Moines

Climate and air quality

Temperature through the yearAverage daytime high and night-time low, °C
Rainfall through the yearAverage monthly precipitation, mm
Air quality vs health guidelinesAnnual means against WHO 2021 guidelines and EU legal limits

City values from the published air-quality observations. WHO 2021 guidelines and EU limit values are published constants.

PM2.5 across cities in United StatesAnnual PM2.5 in Des Moines is 5.2 µg/m³. Of 968 cities with data, 261 have annual PM2.5 of 6 to under 7 µg/m³.

Annual PM2.5 (µg/m³)

MetricValuePeriodSource
PM2.5 — annual mean5.21 µg/m³country median 7.031 Dec 2024EPA AQS annual PM2.5 monitor data 202412Official
Average daytime high by monthJan 8.9 · Feb 10.2 · Mar 12.4 · Apr 15.1 · May 19.1 · Jun 21.7 · Jul 25.2 · Aug 25.3 · Sep 22 · Oct 15.8 · Nov 11.2 · Dec 8.3 °C31 Dec 1991World Meteorological Organization / NOAA NCEI24Official
Average night-time low by monthJan 3.2 · Feb 3.2 · Mar 4.4 · Apr 6.3 · May 9.3 · Jun 11.7 · Jul 13.8 · Aug 14 · Sep 12 · Oct 8.4 · Nov 4.9 · Dec 2.8 °C31 Dec 1991World Meteorological Organization / NOAA NCEI25Official
Average temperature by monthJan 6 · Feb 6.7 · Mar 8.4 · Apr 10.7 · May 14.2 · Jun 16.7 · Jul 19.5 · Aug 19.7 · Sep 17 · Oct 12.1 · Nov 8 · Dec 5.6 °C31 Dec 1991World Meteorological Organization / NOAA NCEI26Official
Average precipitation by monthJan 146.7 · Feb 95.6 · Mar 105.8 · Apr 80.9 · May 47.7 · Jun 36.8 · Jul 15.1 · Aug 24.7 · Sep 41 · Oct 99.4 · Nov 160.4 · Dec 145.2 mm31 Dec 1991World Meteorological Organization / NOAA NCEI27Official
PM2.5, highest monitored reading53.7 µg/m³1 Jul 2026EPA AirData PM2.5 annual mean11Official source, approximated value · Supplemental context · county
PM2.5, annual mean6.75 µg/m³1 Jul 2026EPA AirData PM2.5 annual mean11Official source, approximated value · Supplemental context · county
PM2.5 monitoring sites8 monitors1 Jul 2026EPA AirData PM2.5 annual mean11Official source, approximated value · Supplemental context · county
Annual precipitation739.5 mm30 Jun 2026NOAA GHCN-Daily climate normals18Official source, approximated value · Supplemental context · station observation
Maximum July temperature20.44 °C30 Jun 2026NOAA GHCN-Daily climate normals18Official source, approximated value · Supplemental context · station observation
Average annual temperature12.28 °C30 Jun 2026NOAA GHCN-Daily climate normals18Official source, approximated value · Supplemental context · station observation
Minimum January temperature6.42 °C30 Jun 2026NOAA GHCN-Daily climate normals18Official source, approximated value · Supplemental context · station observation

Similar climate. In United States: Gresham ±1.0 °C. Elsewhere: Saanich (Canada) ±1.2 °C, Reims (France) ±1.3 °C, Werl (Germany) ±1.6 °C, Bremerhaven (Germany) ±2.1 °C, Cork (Ireland) ±2.2 °C. Twenty closest, compared month by month

Monthly highs and lows against the 1991–2020 station normals of the nearest station; ± is the average monthly difference.

Population and city profile

Foreign residents and their share come from different publications that count different groups (for example citizens of another country, or people born abroad, or of foreign origin), so 8,544 is not 13.8% of the population. Each row names its source.

Who lives hereResidents by nationality, % of population

Calculated from the population and foreign-resident facts on this page.

MetricValuePeriodSource
Foreign-resident share13.76 %31 Dec 2020Census Reporter (underlying U.S. Census ACS)9Official
Foreign residents8,544 people31 Dec 2024Census Reporter mirror of ACS 2024 5-year tables30Supplemental estimate · Supplemental context
Population density1,989 people/km²31 Dec 2025Census Reporter / U.S. Census Bureau10Official
Population33,032 people31 Dec 2025U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program21Official
Population covered by crime statistics33,288 people31 Dec 2025FBI CIUS Table 8 by City 2025 (CDE offenses-known-to-le-2025.zip)14Official

Additional context

MetricValuePeriodSource
Median home value597,000 USD4 Jul 2026ACS median gross rent5Official
Owner-occupied homes60.65 %4 Jul 2026ACS median gross rent5Official
Labour force participation rate63.58 %4 Jul 2026ACS total population6Official
Residents born abroad26.03 %4 Jul 2026ACS total population6Official
Naturalized citizens, share of residents12.27 %4 Jul 2026ACS total population6Official
Non-citizens, share of residents13.76 %4 Jul 2026ACS total population6Official
Flu vaccination coverage67.24 %30 Jun 2026CDC BRFSS flu vaccination coverage7Official
Mammography screening coverage73.9 %30 Jun 2026CDC mammography screening rate8Official
Residents without health insurance9.2 %4 Jul 2026ACS median gross rent5Official
Residents with a bachelor's degree or higher33.44 %4 Jul 2026ACS median gross rent5Official
Crime reporting agencies1 agencies1 Jul 2026FBI CDE/UCR crime statistics13Official
Households with a vehicle available92.61 %4 Jul 2026ACS median gross rent5Official
Public transport agencies in the National Transit Database0 agencies4 Jul 2026ACS total population6Official
Workers aged 16 and over14,987 workers4 Jul 2026ACS total population6Official
Workers mainly working from home14.75 %4 Jul 2026ACS total population6Official
Households using cellular data plans89.31 %4 Jul 2026ACS total population6Official

Alternatives for people set on Des Moines

Three places for the three reasons people leave a city on the shortlist: stay in the region, stay in the country, or keep the budget and change the country. A percentage appears only where both cities publish that metric from the same source, period and grain. Distances are straight lines — travel times are not collected yet.

Sammamish as a Des Moines alternative in the same region

32 km away, better on 5 of 7 metrics measured the same way, worse on 1.

  • Median gross pay, city: €8,363 Sammamish vs €3,777 Des Moines+121%
  • Recorded crime, per 100k: 567 Sammamish vs 3,146 Des Moines−82%
  • Nearest airport: 18.0 km Sammamish vs 5.0 km Des Moines+260%
  • Unemployment: 3.1% Sammamish vs 7.5% Des Moines−58%
  • Residents: 66,110 Sammamish vs 33,032 Des Moines+100%
  • Foreign residents: 19.8% Sammamish vs 13.8% Des Moines+44%
  • Annual PM2.5: 4.1 µg/m³ Sammamish vs 5.2 µg/m³ Des Moines−20%

Plainfield as a Des Moines alternative in the same country

A move, not a commute, at 2757 km, better on 3 of 7 metrics measured the same way, worse on 4.

  • Recorded crime, per 100k: 741 Plainfield vs 3,146 Des Moines−76%
  • Unemployment: 3.8% Plainfield vs 7.5% Des Moines−50%
  • Median gross pay, city: €4,830 Plainfield vs €3,777 Des Moines+28%
  • Annual PM2.5: 7.8 µg/m³ Plainfield vs 5.2 µg/m³ Des Moines+50%
  • Median gross pay, region: €4,043 Plainfield vs €5,365 Des Moines−25%
  • Foreign residents: 6.1% Plainfield vs 13.8% Des Moines−56%
  • Nearest airport: 9.0 km Plainfield vs 5.0 km Des Moines+80%

Cities near Des Moines

Published cities within 25 km, nearest first. Distances are straight-line.

Kent 7.0 km away
Salary
3,915 EUR/monthMedian gross salary · 2024-12-31
Lakeland North 7.5 km away
Rent
2,162 EUR/monthMedian monthly rent · 2020-12-31
Salary
3,813 EUR/monthMedian gross salary · 2020-12-31

Alternative cities in United States

Other cities in United States to compare with Des Moines, nearest in population first.

All United States cities

How does Des Moines compare?

Pick a city. The answer appears here and the address bar keeps it, so the comparison can be shared; the page stays Des Moines's.

Common questions

Answered from the published values on this page, each with its source and date.

What is the typical salary around Des Moines?

The median gross salary is 5,365 EUR/month. Source: www.bls.gov.

What is the unemployment rate in Des Moines?

The unemployment rate is 7.47 %. This is a supplemental estimate, not an official municipal measurement. Source: Census Reporter mirror of ACS 2024 5-year tables.

Is the air quality good in Des Moines?

The annual PM2.5 mean is 5.21 µg/m³. The WHO 2021 guideline is 5 µg/m³ and the EU limit value is 25 µg/m³, so this reading is above the WHO guideline but within the EU limit. Source: EPA AQS annual PM2.5 monitor data 2024.

How safe is Des Moines?

Police recorded 3,146 offences per 100,000. This counts all offences, so it is not comparable with a violent-crime-only rate from another source. Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer / Uniform Crime Reporting.

How many people live in Des Moines?

The published population is 33,032 people. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program.

How many foreign residents live in Des Moines?

8,544 residents hold a foreign nationality. This is a supplemental estimate, not an official municipal measurement. Source: Census Reporter mirror of ACS 2024 5-year tables.

Is Des Moines a good place to live?

Des Moines may suit different people for different reasons. The page's profile scores compare published cost, work, housing, safety, healthcare and other available factors; they are a decision aid, not a universal recommendation.

Which cities are near Des Moines?

Normandy Park, SeaTac, Kent, Lakeland North, Burien are near Des Moines. Typed relationship labels are shown where published; other rows use straight-line distance from admitted coordinates.

Cite this page

Open a format to select or copy this ImmigrationDB compilation citation. The native disclosure and text fallback work without JavaScript.

APA citation
ImmigrationDB. (2026, October 16). Des Moines (Washington), United States: population, rent [ImmigrationDB compilation; version 76f2a3addd25dc4977b414505898dfd5]. ImmigrationDB. https://immigrationdb.com/cities/us/des-moines-wa/ Retrieved 2026-10-16. Compilation license: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
BibTeX citation
@misc{immigrationdb_immigrationdb_des-moines-washington-united-states-population-rent_b428a86bf8a6,
  author = {ImmigrationDB},
  title = {Des Moines (Washington), United States: population, rent},
  publisher = {ImmigrationDB},
  year = {2026},
  date = {2026-10-16},
  version = {76f2a3addd25dc4977b414505898dfd5},
  url = {https://immigrationdb.com/cities/us/des-moines-wa/},
  note = {Retrieved 2026-10-16. ImmigrationDB compilation. Compilation license: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/},
}
Markdown citation
[Des Moines (Washington), United States: population, rent](https://immigrationdb.com/cities/us/des-moines-wa/) — ImmigrationDB; ImmigrationDB; version 76f2a3addd25dc4977b414505898dfd5; retrieved 2026-10-16; built 2026-10-16.

This citation identifies the ImmigrationDB compilation/page. Underlying source publishers and datasets retain their own terms; inspect the Sources section and cite those records separately. View the underlying source records.

Sources

JSON Markdown
  1. 2024 American Community Survey 5-year detailed tables api.census.gov · checked 2026-10-04
  2. ACS 2020-2024 5-year table-based Summary File, table B25064 (Median Gross Rent), place records www2.census.gov · checked 2026-09-18
  3. ACS 2020-2024 5-year table-based Summary File, tables B25065 (Aggregate Gross Rent) and B25063 (Gross Rent, units with cash rent) www2.census.gov · checked 2026-09-19
  4. ACS 2024 1-year table-based Summary File, table B20002 (Median Earnings in the Past 12 Months (in 2024 inflation-adjusted dollars) by Sex for the Population 16 Years and Over with Earnings) www2.census.gov · checked 2026-09-19
  5. ACS median gross rent api.censusreporter.org · checked 2026-07-04
  6. ACS total population api.censusreporter.org · checked 2026-07-04
  7. CDC BRFSS flu vaccination coverage data.cdc.gov · checked 2026-06-30
  8. CDC mammography screening rate data.cdc.gov · checked 2026-06-30
  9. Census Reporter (underlying U.S. Census ACS) api.censusreporter.org · checked 2026-08-03
  10. Census Reporter / U.S. Census Bureau api.censusreporter.org · checked 2026-08-03
Show 29 more sources
  1. EPA AirData PM2.5 annual mean aqs.epa.gov · checked 2026-07-01
  2. EPA AQS annual PM2.5 monitor data 2024 aqs.epa.gov · checked 2026-07-26
  3. FBI CDE/UCR crime statistics cde.ucr.cjis.gov · checked 2026-07-01
  4. FBI CIUS Table 8 by City 2025 (CDE offenses-known-to-le-2025.zip) cde.ucr.cjis.gov · checked 2026-09-05
  5. FBI Crime Data Explorer / Uniform Crime Reporting cde.ucr.cjis.gov · checked 2026-08-04
  6. HRSA mental health provider ratio data.hrsa.gov · checked 2026-06-30
  7. NCES CCD public school count nces.ed.gov · checked 2026-06-30
  8. NOAA GHCN-Daily climate normals ncei.noaa.gov · checked 2026-06-30
  9. OpenFlights raw.githubusercontent.com · checked 2026-08-03
  10. OurAirports davidmegginson.github.io · checked 2026-08-03
  11. U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program www2.census.gov · checked 2026-08-03
  12. Verizon 300 Mbps home internet verizon.com · checked 2026-09-15
  13. Visible unlimited mobile plan visible.com · checked 2026-09-15
  14. World Meteorological Organization / NOAA NCEI nodc.noaa.gov · checked 2026-08-03
  15. World Meteorological Organization / NOAA NCEI nodc.noaa.gov · checked 2026-08-03
  16. World Meteorological Organization / NOAA NCEI nodc.noaa.gov · checked 2026-08-03
  17. World Meteorological Organization / NOAA NCEI nodc.noaa.gov · checked 2026-08-03
  18. www.bls.gov bls.gov · checked 2026-08-27
  19. Census Reporter ACS 2020-2024 5-year, table B20002 (underlying U.S. Census Bureau ACS) api.censusreporter.org · checked 2026-09-11
  20. Census Reporter mirror of ACS 2024 5-year tables api.censusreporter.org · checked 2026-07-26
  21. Coordinate identity evidence wikidata.org · checked 2026-09-06
  22. Coordinate identity evidence wikidata.org · checked 2026-09-06
  23. Coordinate identity evidence wikidata.org · checked 2026-09-06
  24. Coordinate identity evidence wikidata.org · checked 2026-09-06
  25. Coordinate identity evidence wikidata.org · checked 2026-09-06
  26. Coordinate identity evidence wikidata.org · checked 2026-09-06
  27. Coordinate identity evidence wikidata.org · checked 2026-09-06
  28. Coordinate identity evidence wikidata.org · checked 2026-09-06
  29. Coordinate identity evidence wikidata.org · checked 2026-09-06

Spotted a number that looks wrong? Every value here carries its source and date — tell us what you found and we will re-check it against the source.