Last updated
Average Rent in West Des Moines, IA & Rent Trends
Rent prices and market trends across 10 apartment communities in West Des Moines, IA. Updated daily.
Market Average
$1,601/mo
▲ +1.3% from last month
Lowest Available
$1,100/mo
cheapest unit on market
Communities
10
tracked daily
Units Listed
44
available now
Price Cuts This Week in West Des Moines, IA
21 listed units across 4 buildings offering 2 bed units in West Des Moines, IA dropped their asking rent in the past 7 days, an average cut of $42/mo. These are the largest cuts, tracked unit by unit with daily price checks.
| Apartment | Unit | Last Week | Now | Cut |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Cunningham Apartments | Unit 10, Slate | $1,697 | $1,447 | $250 |
| Watermark at Jordan Creek | Unit 1, Clover | $1,231 | $1,178 | $53 |
| Pointe West Apartment Homes | Unit 144, A4R | $1,236 | $1,186 | $50 |
| Pointe West Apartment Homes | Unit 327, A2R | $1,213 | $1,163 | $50 |
| Watermark at Jordan Creek | Unit 5, Primrose | $1,489 | $1,446 | $43 |
| Watermark at Jordan Creek | Unit 6, Sage | $1,549 | $1,506 | $43 |
| Mansions At Jordan Creek | Unit 3, Santiago I | $1,499 | $1,456 | $43 |
| Mansions At Jordan Creek | Unit 2, Pilar I | $1,232 | $1,198 | $34 |
Is Rent Going Up or Down in West Des Moines, IA?
As of September 2026, the average rent in West Des Moines, IA is $1,601 per month across 10 apartment communities and 44 available units. Rents have increased $20 (1.3%) over the past month.
The most affordable option is Maple Grove Villas starting at $1,100/mo. By unit type, a 2-bedroom averages $1,601/mo.
Prices range from $1,100 to $2,997 per month. The most common price point is the $1,200 range, where 11 units are currently listed.
West Des Moines, IA Rent Price History
View as table
| Month | Avg Rent | Change | Properties |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2026 | $1,486 | - | 10 |
| August 2026 | $1,519 | +$33 | 10 |
| September 2026 | $1,516 | -$3 | 10 |
The trend line and monthly averages track each building's average listed price, recorded daily with outliers trimmed. The current month is a month-to-date figure, so it can sit above or below today's live market average shown at the top of this page.
Rent Price Distribution
Rent by Bedroom Type in West Des Moines, IA
Rent Prices by Apartment in West Des Moines, IA
| Property | Starting at | Average | Units | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maple Grove Villas | $1,100/mo | $1,214/mo | 4 | 3.3 |
| Mansions At Jordan Creek | $1,198/mo | $1,198/mo | 1 | 3.1 |
| Cascades at Jordan Creek | $1,225/mo | $1,351/mo | 11 | 4.1 |
| Strathmore Apartment Homes | $1,433/mo | $1,452/mo | 4 | 4.6 |
| Watermark at Jordan Creek | $1,446/mo | $1,659/mo | 4 | 4.3 |
| Sierra Pointe Apartments | $1,525/mo | $1,543/mo | 2 | 4.3 |
| Pointe West Apartment Homes | $1,615/mo | $1,668/mo | 3 | 4.6 |
Frequently Asked Questions About Rent in West Des Moines, IA
What is the average rent in West Des Moines, IA?
Is rent going up or down in West Des Moines, IA?
What is the cheapest apartment in West Des Moines, IA?
How many apartments are available in West Des Moines, IA?
What salary do I need to live comfortably in West Des Moines, IA?
Built on the 25 to 30 percent rent-to-income guideline used by most landlords and credit-scoring models.
Minimum to afford average rent
$64,000/year
Based on the 30 percent rule, using our tracked average rent of $1,601/mo.
Comfortable income
$77,000/year
Based on the 25 percent rule, leaving more room for savings, transport, and groceries.
To afford the cheapest tracked apartment ($1,100/mo), you need to earn at least $44,000/year.
Median household income in West Des Moines, IA is $84,925 , about 11% above the comfortable-living threshold.
Cost of living in West Des Moines, IA
Overall prices in West Des Moines, IA runs below the national average by about 7% (BEA Regional Price Parity index 92.8, where 100 equals the U.S. average). The breakdown below estimates monthly costs for a single adult, using national consumer-spending baselines from the Bureau of Labor Statistics scaled by West Des Moines, IA's regional price parities.
| Category | Monthly estimate |
|---|---|
| Rent (market average) | $1,601 |
| Utilities | $370 |
| Groceries | $522 |
| Transportation | $882 |
| Healthcare | $430 |
| Other goods and services | $688 |
| Estimated total | $4,493/mo |
Population
69,893
Median household income
$84,925
Census median rent
$1,194/mo
Census rent burden
25.5%
Median age
36.5
Mean commute
18 min
Methodology
Rent data
Sourced directly from each tracked apartment community and refreshed every 24 hours. Every listed unit price on this page is real and listed today.
Cost of living
Estimates combine national consumer-spending baselines from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (Consumer Expenditure Survey) with the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (MARPP dataset). Both are peer-reviewed federal data releases published annually.
Salary to live comfortably
Applies the standard 25 to 30 percent rent-to-income rule on top of the listed rent. This is the same affordability guideline used by most landlords and credit-scoring models.
Demographic figures
Median household income, population, median age, commute time, Census median rent, and rent as percentage of income come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey 5-year estimates, the most recent complete release.
Cost of living and demographic figures were last published in 2023.
Google Search Trends for West Des Moines, IA Apartments
Search interest for apartments in this area over the past 12 months.
Search Interest Over Time
Explore West Des Moines, IA Apartments
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