Apartments for Rent in Des Moines, IA

Prices and availability in Des Moines, IA were last updated on 18 May 2026.

The best apartments in Des Moines, IA are: Elmcrest, Velocity, The 31st Street Apartments, Hawthorn Hill Apts and Willow Bend.

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

The price range for a studio apartment in Des Moines, IA is between $665 and $1,823.

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 age and size of multifamily buildings are among the most visible characteristics of the rental market in a city. In this case, the apartment buildings in Des Moines are about 32 years old, on average. Of these, 44% have been built since 2000, representing the newer options on the market and typically offering more amenities. Rental buildings in the city have an average height of 5 stories. About 84% of the rental communities here are low-rise, garden-style communities, 13% are mid-rises, and 8% are high-rise buildings. These are true especially for large-scale multifamily buildings with over 50 apartments.

Studio apartments in Des Moines are around 9% of rentals, while 1-bedroom floor plans represent 42% of the total stock. For those in search of larger rentals, 2-bedroom floorplans make up 44% of all rentals. More generous apartments with 3 bedrooms or more are also available in this city for those in search of more space.