Des Moines Named Top City for Home Affordability
A new report ranks Des Moines as the best metropolitan area for housing accessibility and ownership potential.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Residential
Live Poll
Is home ownership becoming more affordable for typical income-earners in your area?
Des Moines has been ranked as the top metropolitan area for home ownership and affordability by Realtor.com. The city earned an A+ grade for its combination of accessible mortgage costs and new housing inventory.
Why it matters
The ranking highlights Des Moines as a leader in balancing current cost-of-living standards with future growth, standing in stark contrast to the nation's least affordable markets.
The median earner in Des Moines spends 27.5% of their income on monthly mortgage payments, while the city permits 85% more new homes than population trends would typically dictate.
The players
Realtor.com
This real estate marketplace company provides comprehensive property listings and housing market reports.
The details
Realtor.com calculated these scores by analyzing income-to-mortgage payment ratios, permit-to-population data, and price premiums for new construction. While Des Moines and Raleigh-Cary secured top marks, Los Angeles-Long Beach ranked last, with median earners there spending 84.4% of their income on housing.
Timeline
October 20, 2026: The Realtor.com affordability report was published.
Culture Shift
This analysis aligns with the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which ties federal Community Development Block Grant money to specific municipal housing provisions. Future housing development is increasingly driven by these regulatory frameworks that penalize or reward cities based on their inventory growth.
Residents in Des Moines benefit from a housing market where the median earner spends significantly less of their income on mortgages compared to national peers. This affordability creates more flexibility in household budgets for other living expenses and long-term savings.
The takeaway
The study underscores how municipal policies that encourage new housing permits directly influence regional affordability levels. Homebuyers in top-ranked areas like Des Moines experience substantially lower monthly housing burdens than those in over-extended markets.
Further reading
For more information on the local market, visit Des Moines Residential.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Des Moines Register.
Live Poll
Is home ownership becoming more affordable for typical income-earners in your area?
