How many renters in Des Moines, IA pay more than 30% of their income on rent?

Name: Rent burden in Des Moines, IA, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

48.8% (±3.2 points) of renting households in Des Moines, IA spend 30% or more of their household income on gross rent (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

37.3% spend 35% or more.

The median renting household spends 29.6% of its income on rent.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Paying 30% or more: 48.8% (±3.2 points)
Paying 35% or more: 37.3% (±2.6 points)
Median share of income: 29.6% (±1.1 points)

Rent as a share of income in Des Moines

Renting households by gross rent as a percentage of household income, 2020–2024
Share of income spent on rent	Des Moines	Polk County	Iowa	United States
Less than 15%	10.7% (±1.9 points)	12.7%	17.1%	12.6%
15% to 19.9%	13.6% (±2.0 points)	13.5%	14.6%	12.2%
20% to 24.9%	13.6% (±2.0 points)	15.6%	12.8%	12.6%
25% to 29.9%	13.4% (±1.7 points)	12.0%	11.6%	11.5%
30% to 34.9%	11.5% (±1.9 points)	10.7%	8.7%	9.2%
35% or more	37.3% (±2.6 points)	35.5%	35.2%	41.9%

Households whose income could not be measured against their rent (for example, those reporting no income) are left out of these shares, as the Census Bureau leaves them out.

Des Moines against Polk County, its state and the nation

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	Des Moines	Polk County	Iowa	United States
Paying 30% or more	48.8% (±3.2 points)	46.2% (±2.3 points)	43.9% (±0.8 points)	51.1%
Paying 35% or more	37.3% (±2.6 points)	35.5% (±1.9 points)	35.2% (±0.6 points)	41.9%
Median share of income	29.6% (±1.1 points)	28.4% (±0.9 points)	27.4% (±0.3 points)	30.6%
Median renter household income	$45,663 (±$2,244)	$49,375 (±$1,747)	$43,297 (±$758)	$52,966
Median gross rent	$1,090 (±$21)	$1,149 (±$16)	$972 (±$6)	$1,413

In Des Moines, the share of renters paying 30% or more of income is not measurably different from Polk County (46.2%).

It is also higher than in Iowa (43.9%).

It is not measurably different from the national figure (51.1%).

In Polk County, Des Moines ranks 4 of 16 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of renters paying 30% or more of income.

Statewide, it ranks 249 of 895.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

Renters paying 30% or more of income in places near Des Moines

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Des Moines
Place	Distance	Renters paying 30% or more of income	Compared with this place
Des Moines	—	48.8% (±3.2 points)	—
Pleasant Hill	5.7 mi	47.6% (±18.3 points)	Not measurably different
Windsor Heights	5.7 mi	62.2% (±23.8 points)	Not measurably different
Carlisle	7.1 mi	47.0% (±21.8 points)	Not measurably different
Saylorville	7.5 mi	14.1% (±40.7 points)	Not measurably different
Norwalk	7.6 mi	38.2% (±17.6 points)	Not measurably different
Altoona	8.6 mi	47.4% (±13.1 points)	Not measurably different
West Des Moines	9.0 mi	42.8% (±4.4 points)	Lower
Urbandale	9.8 mi	38.5% (±8.5 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: West Des Moines, IA (42.8%), Urbandale, IA (38.5%).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Renters paying 30% or more of income across Polk County, place by place

Rank	Place	Renters paying 30% or more of income
1	Windsor Heights	62.2% (±23.8 points)
2	Runnells	60.9% (±50.8 points)
3	Mitchellville	50.7% (±24.2 points)
4	Des Moines	48.8% (±3.2 points)
5	Pleasant Hill	47.6% (±18.3 points)
6	Altoona	47.4% (±13.1 points)
7	Johnston	46.2% (±9.0 points)
8	Polk City	45.3% (±40.5 points)
9	West Des Moines	42.8% (±4.4 points)
10 (tie)	Ankeny	42.4% (±7.2 points)

Showing 10 of 16 places in Polk County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Des Moines

Are renters in Des Moines rent-burdened?

48.8% of renting households in Des Moines pay 30% or more of their income in gross rent, the share housing researchers usually call rent-burdened (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

What share of income do renters in Des Moines spend on rent?

The median renting household in Des Moines, IA spends 29.6% (±1.1 points) of its household income on gross rent.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) and detailed tables (acs/acs5) for Des Moines city, Iowa (place:21000, in state:19).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0136E, DP04_0136M, DP04_0137PE, DP04_0137PM, DP04_0138PE, DP04_0138PM, DP04_0139PE, DP04_0139PM, DP04_0140PE, DP04_0140PM, DP04_0141PE, DP04_0141PM, DP04_0142PE, DP04_0142PM, B25071_001E, B25071_001M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.