What is the average apartment size in Downtown Des Moines, Des Moines, IA?

The average size for a Downtown Des Moines, Des Moines, IA apartment is 811 square feet, but this number varies greatly depending on unit type, with cheap and luxury alternatives for houses and apartments alike. Studio apartments are the smallest and most affordable, 1-bedroom apartments are closer to the average, while 2-bedroom apartments and 3-bedroom apartments offer a more generous square footage.

What is the average rent in Downtown Des Moines?

As of Jun / 2026, the average rent in Downtown Des Moines is $1,335 per month, a 0.78% decrease from last years average of $1,345.

How much does rent cost by apartment size in Downtown Des Moines?

In Downtown Des Moines, studios rent for $909 per month, one-bedroom units average $1,229 per month, two-bedrooms cost around $1,620 per month.

What is the average apartment size in Downtown Des Moines?

The typical apartment in Downtown Des Moines offers about 811 sq. ft. square feet of living space, though actual sizes vary depending on layout and amenities.

How large are apartments by bedroom count in Downtown Des Moines?

Studio apartments in Downtown Des Moines average 498 sq. ft., one-bedrooms offer 704 sq. ft., two-bedrooms are about 1,088 sq. ft.

Downtown Des Moines, Des Moines, IA Rental Market Trends

Q: What's the typical rent budget in Downtown Des Moines?

The typical rent budget in Downtown Des Moines ranges from $1,001 to $1,500 per month, with 50% of rentals in this range.

Q: Do most people rent or own in Downtown Des Moines?

In Downtown Des Moines, 89% of households rent while 11% own their homes, based on the latest U.S. Census data.

Last updated: August 01, 2026 | Source: RentCafe Market Analysis, Yardi Matrix, U.S. Census Bureau

Highlights

The average rent for an apartment in Downtown Des Moines is $1,335, a 0.78% decrease compared to the previous year, when the average rent was $1,345.

Studio Apartments at $909 offer the most budget-friendly option with 498 square feet, ideal for single renters prioritizing location over space.

One-bedroom apartments provide 704 square feet for $1,229, balancing privacy and affordability.

Two-bedroom units at $1,620 offer 1,088 square feet, perfect for roommates or small families.

Average rent in Downtown Des Moines, Des Moines, IA

Last updated: August 01, 2026

	Average Rent	Average Apartment Size
All Rentals	$1,335	811 sq. ft.
Studio	$909	498 sq. ft.
1 Bed	$1,229	704 sq. ft.
2 Beds	$1,620	1,088 sq. ft.
3 Beds	n/a	n/a

Downtown Des Moines, Des Moines, IA rent trends

Rental prices in Downtown Des Moines, Des Moines, IA have decreased by 0.78% over the past year. The average rent moved from $1,345 to $1,335.

What's the typical rent budget in Downtown Des Moines, Des Moines, IA?

The largest share of rentals in Downtown Des Moines, Des Moines, IA (50%) fall between $1,001-$1,500 per month. This suggests that most people succesfully find suitable apartments within this price.

Do most people rent or own in Downtown Des Moines, Des Moines, IA?

3,826 or 89% of the households in Downtown Des Moines, Des Moines, IA are renter-occupied while 454 or 11% are owner-occupied.

Most affordable neighborhoods in Downtown Des Moines?

South Des Moines $808/month

Fort Des Moines $823/month

Meredith $883/month

All of these neighborhoods fall below the city wide average of $1,107/month.

Most expensive neighborhoods in Downtown Des Moines?

McKinley School - Columbus Park $1,220/month

Historic East Village $1,295/month

Downtown Des Moines $1,335/month

These neighborhoods typically command higher rents due to location, amenities, and demand.

Average Rent in Des Moines, IA By Neighborhood

Neighborhood	Average Rent
Downtown Des Moines	$1,335
Historic East Village	$1,295
McKinley School - Columbus Park	$1,220
Woodland Heights	$1,194
North of Grand	$1,161
Sherman Hill	$1,126
Drake	$1,069
Douglas Acres	$1,017
Prospect Park	$1,008
River Woods	$949
Southwestern Hills	$933
Magnolia Park	$914
South Park	$901
Pioneer Park	$886
Capitol Park	$884
Meredith	$883
Fort Des Moines	$823
South Des Moines	$808

Des Moines | Rent Comparison by Neighborhood

Rent in Downtown Des Moines is 51% higher than in Capitol Park

$1,335

Downtown Des Moines rent is the same as Des Moines average

Average Rent $1,335

$884

Capitol Park rent is 34% lower than Des Moines average

Average Rent $884

Where this data comes from

The rental statistics on this page were compiled by RentCafe.com, a nationwide apartment search website trusted by millions of renters to find apartments and houses for rent throughout the U.S.

Rent prices, trends, and apartment sizes were calculated based on data from our sister company, Yardi Matrix, an apartment market intelligence solution that covers approximately 90% of the U.S. metro area population. The data includes comprehensive information on all Downtown Des Moines apartment buildings with 50 or more units, totaling 23.5 million apartments across 181 U.S. markets.

Housing composition data was sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau, using the most recently available information by tenure.