What are the schools like in Des Moines, WA?

Des Moines is served primarily by Why Not You Academy. The district operates several elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.8:1.

What is the median household income in Des Moines?

The median household income in Des Moines, WA is $81,362 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 8.2%.

What is the weather like in Des Moines, WA?

Des Moines has an average high temperature of 48.0°F in January and 77.4°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 39.3 inches and annual snowfall averages 6.3 inches.

Des Moines, WA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Des Moines, WA affordable or expensive?

Des Moines's cost of living index is 113, where 100 represents the national average. This means Des Moines is 13% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $483,200 and the median rent is $1,662 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Des Moines, WA?

Des Moines has a violent crime rate of 296.6 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2849.1 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Des Moines, WA a Good Place to Live?

Des Moines is a small city of 32,667 in Washington, with a median household income of $81,362 and a 8.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 113 (US average = 100), which is 13% above the national average.

Strengths: Des Moines stands out for solid school ratings (B-).

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, high home prices, longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Des Moines is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Des Moines city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 113.0

Des Moines's overall cost of living index is 113.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Des Moines costs roughly 13% more than the average American city.

Metric	Des Moines, WA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$483,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,662	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	59.4%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$81,362	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Des Moines's violent crime rate is 296.6 per 100,000 residents — 22% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

296.6 /100k

Property Crime

2849.1 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Des Moines is served primarily by Why Not You Academy. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.8:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Des Moines, WA	National Avg
School District	Why Not You Academy	—
Elementary Schools	N/A	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.8:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	30.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	88.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Des Moines sees average highs of 48.0°F in January and 77.4°F in July, with 39.3 inches of annual precipitation and 6.3 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Des Moines, WA
Average High — January	48.0°F
Average High — July	77.4°F
Annual Precipitation	39.3"
Annual Snowfall	6.3"

Demographics

Metric	Des Moines, WA	National Avg
Population	32,667	—
Median Age	38.2	38.9
Unemployment Rate	8.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	30.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	53.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	9.6%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	15.3%	18.9%
Asian	12.1%	6.3%
Under 18	21.2%	22.2%
65 and over	17.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Normandy Park, WA 3 mi SeaTac, WA 4 mi Lakeland North, WA 4 mi Kent, WA 5 mi Federal Way, WA 5 mi

ZIP Codes in Des Moines

Des Moines, WA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

98198

Des Moines vs Other Cities

Des Moines, WA vs Normandy Park, WA Des Moines, WA vs SeaTac, WA Des Moines, WA vs Lakeland North, WA Des Moines, WA vs Kent, WA Des Moines, WA vs Federal Way, WA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Des Moines, WA affordable or expensive?

Des Moines's cost of living index is 113, where 100 is the national average. That puts Des Moines roughly 13% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $483,200 and median rent is $1,662/month.

What is the crime rate in Des Moines, WA?

Des Moines's violent crime rate is 296.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2849.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Des Moines?

Public schools in Des Moines are operated by Why Not You Academy. The district has several elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.8:1. 30.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Des Moines, WA a good place to live?

Des Moines, WA has a population of 32,667, a median household income of $81,362, and an unemployment rate of 8.2%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Des Moines?

Des Moines averages 48.0°F in January and 77.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 39.3 inches with about 6.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Des Moines?

Des Moines, WA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 98198.

What is the population of Des Moines?

The population of Des Moines, Washington is 32,667 with a median age of 38.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Des Moines?

Key numbers for living in Des Moines: cost of living index 113 (100 = US average), median home $483,200, median household income $81,362, crime index 101 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Des Moines side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.