County FMR · HUD FY2026

Des Moines County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Des Moines County, IA - 16% below the US average.

$810
1-bedroom FMR
$1,063
2-bedroom FMR
-0.9%
YoY change
-16%
vs US avg

The verdict

Des Moines is the 19th most expensive of 99 counties in Iowa by 2-bedroom FMR.

#19
most expensive of 99 in Iowa (2BR)
+3%
vs the state average
$32,400
income to afford it (30% rule)
-0.9%
YoY, FY2025→2026

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (8.8%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (34.2%).

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Des Moines County, IA. Verify with HUD →

Des Moines County, Iowa carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $810 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,063/mo and a studio is $733/mo. That's 16% below the national benchmark of $959 and 3% above the Iowa average of $788.

Rent decreased0.9% from FY 2025 ($817), roughly tracking inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $32,400/year based on the 30% affordability rule.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Iowa. Population: 38,824. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-2.5%, Census ACS). That's slower than Iowa's statewide growth of +2.0% over the same period.

What these rents mean for Des Moines County

The Des Moines County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Iowa's housing authorities use it as the baseline for Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. See how FMR is calculated for the full 40th-percentile methodology and payment-standard rules.

Compared to the rest of the country, a 1-bedroom here is 16% below the US average of $959 and 3% higher than the Iowa state average of $788. The 1-bedroom FMR went from$817 in FY 2025 to $810 in FY 2026 - a change of -0.9%, which tracks roughly with broader price trends.

At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $810, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $32,400 per year (about $2,700/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,063 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 38,824 and a county median household income of $60,662, the arithmetic here directly shapes which wage earners can rent without being cost-burdened.

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $738 · US avg: $893
$733/mo
↓ 0.3% YoY -1% vs state -18% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $788 · US avg: $959
$810/mo
↓ 0.9% YoY +3% vs state -16% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $989 · US avg: $1,175
$1,063/mo
↓ 0.8% YoY +7% vs state -10% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,282 · US avg: $1,525
$1,369/mo
↑ 3.4% YoY +7% vs state -10% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,420 · US avg: $1,756
$1,426/mo
↑ 0.4% YoY +0% vs state -19% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $735
$733
$-2 (-0.3%)
1 Bedroom $817
$810
$-7 (-0.9%)
2 Bedroom $1,072
$1,063
$-9 (-0.8%)
3 Bedroom $1,324
$1,369
+$45 (+3.4%)
4 Bedroom $1,421
$1,426
+$5 (+0.4%)

Affordability Snapshot

Based on the standard that rent should not exceed 30% of gross income:

Required annual income for 1 BR
$32,400
$2,700/month gross
Required annual income for 2 BR
$42,520
$3,543/month gross

Rent Burden Analysis

How much of household income goes to rent in Des Moines County. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.

Studio
14.5%
Affordable
Need $29,320/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
16%
Affordable
Need $32,400/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
21%
Affordable
Need $42,520/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
27.1%
Affordable
Need $54,760/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
28.2%
Affordable
Need $57,040/yr for 30% rule
How we calculate this

Rent burden = (FMR × 12) ÷ county median household income. Required income = (FMR × 12) ÷ 0.3, the federal 30%-of-gross-income rule HUD uses to define cost burden. Median household income is from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey; FMR is from HUD's FY2026 release. See methodology.

Des Moines County 2-bedroom rent burden

0%100%National avg22%21%
Des Moines County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $60,662 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Iowa rent burden →

Where Des Moines sits among every US county

2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties

$1,063 higher than 55% of 3,145 counties

$600–$800: 23 counties (1%). Below this entry. $800–$1,000: 1,406 counties (45%). Below this entry. $1,000–$1,200: 723 counties (23%). This entry sits in this band. $1,200–$1,400: 417 counties (13%). Above this entry. $1,400–$1,600: 181 counties (6%). Above this entry. $1,600–$1,800: 172 counties (5%). Above this entry. $1,800–$2,000: 108 counties (3%). Above this entry. $2,000–$2,200: 29 counties (1%). Above this entry. $2,200–$2,400: 40 counties (1%). Above this entry. $2,400–$2,600: 13 counties (0%). Above this entry. $2,600–$2,800: 9 counties (0%). Above this entry. $2,800–$3,000: 15 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,000–$3,200: 3 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,200–$3,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,400–$3,600: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,600–$3,800: 3 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,800–$4,000: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,000–$4,200: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,200–$4,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. This county $600 $4,400 every US county, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $0.2K-wide band; taller bars hold more counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Market Rents · FY2026

How Des Moines compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Iowa counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Des Moines is highlighted. Nearby Iowa counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Polk County ($1,109), Johnson County ($961), Scott County ($928), Woodbury County ($925), Linn County ($816), Des Moines County (this county) ($810), Black Hawk County ($801).

Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) As of FY2026

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $810/mo compares to Iowa salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).

Occupation IA Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $109,850 8.8% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $80,620 12.1% Affordable
Registered Nurses $76,960 12.6% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $74,290 13.1% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $73,900 13.2% Affordable
Electricians $62,880 15.5% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $55,540 17.5% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $55,080 17.6% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $53,280 18.2% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $44,990 21.6% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $41,380 23.5% Affordable
Janitors & Cleaners $36,130 26.9% Affordable
Retail Salespersons $30,030 32.4% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $28,500 34.1% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $28,400 34.2% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Iowa) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

7-year Fair Market Rent history for Des Moines County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Des Moines (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 31.7% overall, from $615 to $810. The increases have been fairly steady year to year, with no single jump exceeding 9.8% (FY 2023).

$600$650$700$750$800$850 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $810
Des Moines County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↓0.9% $733 $810 $1,063
FY 2025 ↑4.3% $735 $817 $1,072
FY 2024 ↑7.4% $697 $783 $1,029
FY 2023 ↑9.8% $642 $729 $960
FY 2022 ↑1.7% $581 $664 $874
FY 2021 ↑6.2% $567 $653 $860
FY 2020 $528 $615 $810
Total change (6yr): +31.7%
Annualized: +4.7%/yr
1 BR: $615 → $810

Part of the Burlington, IA-IL Micro Area

Des Moines County is a central county of the Burlington, IA-IL micropolitan statistical area, alongside 1 other micro-area county.

Des Moines County ranks #1 of 2 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Des Moines County (this county) ($810), Henderson County ($698).

Des Moines County (this county)
1 BR: $810/mo
Henderson County
1 BR: $698/mo

Nearby Counties in Iowa

Largest counties by population in Iowa

Polk County
1 BR: $1,109/mo Pop: 493,378
Linn County
1 BR: $816/mo Pop: 229,308
Scott County
1 BR: $928/mo Pop: 174,315
Johnson County
1 BR: $961/mo Pop: 153,360
Black Hawk County
1 BR: $801/mo Pop: 131,041
Woodbury County
1 BR: $925/mo Pop: 105,526
Dallas County
1 BR: $1,109/mo Pop: 100,367
Dubuque County
1 BR: $841/mo Pop: 98,812
View all counties in Iowa →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Des Moines County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Des Moines County is $810 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,063 and a studio is $733.
How does Des Moines County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Des Moines County is 16% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $810 compared to $959 nationally.
What income do I need to afford rent in Des Moines County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $32,400 ($2,700/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Des Moines County.
Is rent going up or down in Des Moines County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Des Moines County decreased by 0.9% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $817 to $810.
Which jobs can afford rent in Des Moines County? ▼
Based on Iowa BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $810/mo. 12 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Des Moines County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Des Moines County went from $615 in FY 2020 to $810 in FY 2026, a total change of +31.7% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Des Moines County? ▼
In Des Moines County, the FY 2026 FMR of $810/mo for a 1-bedroom sets the baseline that local housing authorities use for Section 8 payment standards.
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Des Moines County? ▼
For Des Moines County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($810/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

What this means for renters

Treat Des Moines's FY2026 Fair Market Rent as HUD's affordability benchmark, not a market quote.

  • Budget to roughly 30% of income: the FY2026 1-bedroom FMR of $810 implies about $32,400/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
  • Compare this county against nearby metros and states before signing a lease. Compare areas
  • See where it sits on the national rent map. View rankings

Fair Market Rent is HUD's 40th-percentile policy benchmark used to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. Actual asking rents in Des Moines can run higher or lower, and HUD updates FMRs once a year. This page is informational and not financial or relocation advice.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and HUD Fair Market Rents. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.

All federal data sources used on this page
  • HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) - county-level fair-market rent estimates by bedroom count. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
  • HUD Income Limits - area median income for affordability calculations. huduser.gov/datasets/il
  • HUD Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) - rent burden and housing-cost distribution. huduser.gov/datasets/cp
  • U.S. Census Bureau ACS - county and metro housing characteristics + median rent. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
  • BLS Consumer Price Index, Rent of Primary Residence - rent inflation by metro. bls.gov/cpi
  • IRS Migration Data (SOI) - interstate migration aggregates affecting county demand. irs.gov/statistics/migration
  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics - state-level median wages by occupation, used for job affordability analysis. bls.gov/oes

Every figure on PlainRent is rendered directly from HUD's published Fair Market Rent records, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of FY 2026.