Polk County · Iowa · Midwest · 212k residents
Des Moines, IA: economy, jobs & business costs
The site-selection read on Des Moines: labor costs, talent, corporate tax, energy, and business activity, with the Iowa median as the yardstick. Compare it live against any of 3,000 US cities.
Data coverage: Curated city row; coverage varies by fact.
Average weekly wages in the surrounding labor market run $1,445/wk. Iowa's corporate income tax rate is 7.1%. Commercial electricity averages 10.2¢/kWh.
Compare Des Moines side by side
Avg. weekly wage
$1,445/wk
Corporate income tax
7.1%
Bachelor's degree or higher
29.7%
Commercial electricity
10.2¢/kWh
Economic momentum
How fast Des Moines's economy is moving, ranked against the US cities we track.
51/100
Steady
Ranks Des Moines's residential building-permit and jobs growth against the US cities we cover. The label is relative pace, not a direction, so a market can rank low while some figures still rise. A higher score moves faster, it is not cheaper or better. This is economic activity, not commercial lease rates or vacancy. Not investment or relocation advice.
| Median home value | $220,000 |
| Price per sq. ft. | $145 |
| Property tax rate | 1.8% |
| 1-bedroom rent | $1,050/mo |
| 2-bedroom rent | $1,300/mo |
| State & local income tax | 5.3% |
| Sales tax | 7% |
| Corporate income tax | 7.1% |
| Avg. weekly wage | $1,445/wk |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.7% |
| Commercial electricity | 10.2¢/kWh |
| Businesses per 1k residents | 39.5/1k |
| Wage: Software developer | $126,460 |
| Wage: Registered nurse | $78,630 |
| Wage: General manager | $98,780 |
| Wage: Customer service | $48,880 |
| Wage: Warehouse worker | $36,800 |
| Wage: Heavy truck driver | $60,720 |
| Wage: Electrician | $62,840 |
| Wage: Retail salesperson | $33,430 |
| Cost of living index | 88 |
| Groceries index | 94 |
| Utilities | $155/mo |
| Transit pass | $58/mo |
| Gas price | $2.90/gal |
| Healthcare index | 95 |
| Childcare (per child) | $1,050/mo |
| Median household income | $62,000 |
| Unemployment rate | 3% |
| Population | 212k |
| Crime index | 45/100 |
| School rating | 6.0/10 |
| Walkability | 45/100 |
| Disaster risk | 92/100 |
| Avg. commute | 19 min |
| Sunny days / year | 204 days |
| July high | 86°F |
| January low | 14°F |
| Annual snowfall | 37 in |
| Home price YoY | +0.4% |
| Home price MoM | -0.4% |
| Rent YoY | +2.4% |
| Rent MoM | +0.1% |
| Employment (jobs) YoY | -0.9% |
| Building permits YoY | +171.2% |
| Ocean coast | 811 mi |
| Big lake | 229 mi |
| Mountains | 318 mi |
| Major airport | 6 mi |
| Ski resort | 263 mi |
Popular comparisons
Nearby
- Urbandale, IA · 47k
- Johnston, IA · 24k
- Clive, IA · 19k
- West Des Moines, IA · 71k
- Altoona, IA · 21k
Similar size
- Cedar Rapids, IA · 137k
- Davenport, IA · 101k
- Sioux City, IA · 86k
- Iowa City, IA · 76k
- Ankeny, IA · 73k
Real listings in Des Moines
LoopNet ↗Crexi ↗CommercialCafe ↗
Links open third-party listing searches. WhereToHQ has no paid relationship with these sites.
- Is Des Moines a good place to run a business?
- Iowa's corporate income tax rate is 7.1%; average weekly wages in the surrounding labor market run $1,445/wk; commercial electricity averages 10.2¢/kWh. Weigh these against your own priorities in the business comparison tool.
- What is the cost of living in Des Moines, IA?
- Des Moines indexes at 88 for day-to-day costs against a national baseline of 100, with a typical two-bedroom renting for $1,300/mo and a median home value of $220,000.
- How much does a house cost in Des Moines?
- The median home value in Des Moines is $220,000 (compiled estimate; individual listings vary).
- How much is rent in Des Moines?
- A two-bedroom in Des Moines rents for about $1,300/mo.