The typical owner-occupied home in West Des Moines is worth about $309,000, 49% above the Iowa median of $208,000 and 7% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $4,711 a year in property taxes, about 1.52% of their home's value, higher than the Iowa rate of 1.39%. The median household earns $86,594 a year, so the median home costs 3.6 times the median income (2.8 times for Iowa). 57% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 67% of those owners still have a mortgage.
West Des Moines at a glance
| West Des Moines | Iowa | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $309,000 | $208,000 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $4,711 | $2,897 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 1.52% | 1.39% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $86,594 | $75,059 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 57% | 72% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 67% | 59% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,845 | $1,533 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 18.2% | 18.7% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $1,237 | $972 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 26.4% | 27.4% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1994 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 5.2% | 8.5% | 10.1% |
| Population | 71,083 | 3,210,507 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in West Des Moines
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median West Des Moines home of $309,000 with 20% down costs about $2,183 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $2,698, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $93,561 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 30% of the median West Des Moines household income of $86,594; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $286,000.
The median rent here is $1,237 a month, so owning the median home costs about $946 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $61,800 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $247,200 |
| Principal and interest | $1,663 |
| Property taxes (1.52% a year) | $391 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $129 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $2,183 |
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| Down payment | $10,815 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $303,403 |
| Principal and interest | $2,041 |
| Property taxes (1.52% a year) | $391 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $129 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $137 |
| Total per month | $2,698 |
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Questions about home buying in West Des Moines
What is the median home value in West Des Moines?
About $309,000 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in West Des Moines?
Homeowners pay a median $4,711 a year, which is about 1.52% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in West Des Moines?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $2,183 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $93,561 a year.
More about West Des Moines
- Mortgage Refinance in West Des Moines
- Debt Relief in West Des Moines
- Home Equity Loans in West Des Moines
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data