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 810 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 Jul / 2026, the average rent in Downtown Des Moines is $1,332 per month, a 1.04% decrease from last years average of $1,346.

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

In Downtown Des Moines, studios rent for $902 per month, one-bedroom units average $1,230 per month, two-bedrooms cost around $1,618 per month.

What is the average apartment size in Downtown Des Moines?

The typical apartment in Downtown Des Moines offers about 810 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 494 sq. ft., one-bedrooms offer 705 sq. ft., two-bedrooms are about 1,091 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 49% 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 31, 2026 | Source: RentCafe Market Analysis, Yardi Matrix, U.S. Census Bureau

Highlights

The average rent for an apartment in Downtown Des Moines is $1,332, a 1.04% decrease compared to the previous year, when the average rent was $1,346.

Studio Apartments at $902 offer the most budget-friendly option with 494 square feet, ideal for single renters prioritizing location over space.

One-bedroom apartments provide 705 square feet for $1,230, balancing privacy and affordability.

Two-bedroom units at $1,618 offer 1,091 square feet, perfect for roommates or small families.

Average rent in Downtown Des Moines, Des Moines, IA

Last updated: August 31, 2026

	Average Rent	Average Apartment Size
All Rentals	$1,332	810 sq. ft.
Studio	$902	494 sq. ft.
1 Bed	$1,230	705 sq. ft.
2 Beds	$1,618	1,091 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 1.04% over the past year. The average rent moved from $1,346 to $1,332.

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 (49%) 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?

Fort Des Moines $823/month

Meredith $845/month

Pioneer Park $855/month

All of these neighborhoods fall below the city wide average of $1,103/month.

Most expensive neighborhoods in Downtown Des Moines?

McKinley School - Columbus Park $1,222/month

Downtown Des Moines $1,332/month

Historic East Village $1,346/month

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

Average Rent in Des Moines, IA By Neighborhood

Neighborhood	Average Rent
Historic East Village	$1,346
Downtown Des Moines	$1,332
McKinley School - Columbus Park	$1,222
Woodland Heights	$1,199
North of Grand	$1,165
Sherman Hill	$1,126
Drake	$1,059
Douglas Acres	$1,025
Prospect Park	$1,009
River Woods	$956
Southwestern Hills	$927
Magnolia Park	$918
South Park	$904
Capitol Park	$895
South Des Moines	$859
Pioneer Park	$855
Meredith	$845
Fort Des Moines	$823

Des Moines | Rent Comparison by Neighborhood

Rent in Downtown Des Moines is 49% higher than in Capitol Park

$1,332

Downtown Des Moines rent is the same as Des Moines average

Average Rent $1,332

$895

Capitol Park rent is 33% lower than Des Moines average

Average Rent $895

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.