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

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

69.4% (±8.9 points) of renting households in Des Moines, WA spend 30% or more of their household income on gross rent (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

61.2% spend 35% or more.

The median renting household spends 39.8% of its income on rent.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Paying 30% or more: 69.4% (±8.9 points)
Paying 35% or more: 61.2% (±8.2 points)
Median share of income: 39.8% (±3.9 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	King County	Washington	United States
Less than 15%	5.7% (±3.5 points)	14.4%	12.4%	12.6%
15% to 19.9%	3.0% (±2.1 points)	13.2%	12.3%	12.2%
20% to 24.9%	7.7% (±3.8 points)	13.8%	13.3%	12.6%
25% to 29.9%	14.2% (±5.6 points)	11.9%	12.1%	11.5%
30% to 34.9%	8.2% (±3.4 points)	9.3%	9.8%	9.2%
35% or more	61.2% (±8.2 points)	37.5%	40.1%	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 King County, its state and the nation

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	Des Moines	King County	Washington	United States
Paying 30% or more	69.4% (±8.9 points)	46.8% (±0.8 points)	49.9% (±0.5 points)	51.1%
Paying 35% or more	61.2% (±8.2 points)	37.5% (±0.7 points)	40.1% (±0.4 points)	41.9%
Median share of income	39.8% (±3.9 points)	28.6% (±0.3 points)	30.0% (±0.2 points)	30.6%
Median renter household income	$55,162 (±$8,162)	$85,547 (±$1,255)	$66,868 (±$600)	$52,966
Median gross rent	$1,799 (±$86)	$2,092 (±$13)	$1,760 (±$7)	$1,413

In Des Moines, the share of renters paying 30% or more of income is higher than in King County (46.8%).

It is also higher than in Washington (49.9%).

It is higher than the national figure (51.1%).

In King County, Des Moines ranks 4 of 59 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of renters paying 30% or more of income.

Statewide, it ranks 45 of 467.

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	—	69.4% (±8.9 points)	—
Normandy Park	3.3 mi	44.0% (±22.6 points)	Lower
SeaTac	3.9 mi	64.1% (±8.1 points)	Not measurably different
Lakeland North	3.9 mi	46.4% (±16.6 points)	Lower
Kent	4.9 mi	54.9% (±3.9 points)	Lower
Federal Way	5.4 mi	61.4% (±4.8 points)	Not measurably different
Burien	6.1 mi	51.8% (±5.6 points)	Lower
Tukwila	6.4 mi	54.4% (±8.0 points)	Lower
Vashon	6.6 mi	53.0% (±19.2 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Normandy Park, WA (44.0%), Lakeland North, WA (46.4%), Kent, WA (54.9%).

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 King County, place by place

Rank	Place	Renters paying 30% or more of income
1	Ames Lake	100.0% (±141.4 points)
2	Riverbend	83.3% (±57.7 points)
3	Duvall	70.0% (±29.3 points)
4 (tie)	Des Moines	69.4% (±8.9 points)
4 (tie)	Medina	69.4% (±23.9 points)
6	SeaTac	64.1% (±8.1 points)
7	White Center	63.0% (±12.4 points)
8	Federal Way	61.4% (±4.8 points)
9	Bryn Mawr-Skyway	60.8% (±12.2 points)
10	Wilderness Rim	60.7% (±86.9 points)

Showing 10 of 59 places in King 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?

69.4% 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, WA spends 39.8% (±3.9 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, Washington (place:17635, in state:53).

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.