Apartments for Rent in Des Moines, IA

Prices and availability in Des Moines, IA were last updated on 15 May 2026.

The best apartments in Des Moines, IA are: Harrington, Elmcrest, Hilltop I, University Village and Crane Artist Lofts.

The average rent in Des Moines, IA is $1,073.

The price range for a studio apartment in Des Moines, IA is between $650 and $2,035.

The price range for a 1-bedroom apartment in Des Moines, IA is between $650 and $2,292.

The price range for a 2-bedroom apartment in Des Moines, IA is between $685 and $3,184.

The price range for a 3-bedroom apartment in Des Moines, IA is between $650 and $3,489.

In Des Moines, 40% of the residents are renting compared to 60% owning a home, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Large-scale apartment buildings with more than 50 units represent 18% of Des Moines's rentals, 57% are small-scale complexes with under 50 units, and 23% are single-family rentals.

The average age of rental buildings in Des Moines is 32 years old, with 44% being newer apartment buildings completed since 2000. The average height of apartment buildings in the city is 5 stories, of which 84% are garden-style apartment communities, 13% are mid-sized buildings, and 8% are high-rises. These characteristics describe large-scale apartment communities of 50 apartments or more.

Rental apartments in Des Moines come in a range of sizes and floorplans. Studio apartments represent 9% of units for rent, ideal for singles, renters on a budget and people who value central locations more than space. Rentals with 1-bedroom floorplans make up 42% of the total apartments in the city, while 2-bedroom floorplans represent around 44% of all rentals in Des Moines. The rest are larger floorplans with 3 bedrooms or more, typically preferred by families, larger households or roommates sharing space.