Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in West Des Moines, Iowa
A $286,000 home here costs
$2,530per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.40% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $108,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,584. The real number is $946 higher every month, 60% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Polk County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
West Des Moines against Polk County and Iowa
| Measure | West Des Moines | Polk County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $286,300 | $248,400 |
| Median property tax | $4,586 | $4,364 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.602% | 1.757% |
| Median gross rent | $1,194 | $1,113 |
| Population | 69,893 | 497,441 |
West Des Moines extends across 4 counties. Figures here use Polk County, where most of its housing sits.
The weather behind that power bill
West Des Moines sits in Polk County, which averages a high of 85.7°F in its hottest month and a low of 11.7°F in its coldest, with 37.05" of precipitation a year and 40% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 958 cooling and 6,547 heating degree days, which is what sets the $133 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Polk County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Polk County
Talk to someone who works this market
These are West Des Moines averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works West Des Moines every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
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Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in West Des Moines?
A $286,000 home in West Des Moines, Iowa costs approximately $2,530 per month with 20% down at 7.4%. That is $1,584 principal and interest, $382 property tax, $124 homeowners insurance, $201 utilities and $238 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in West Des Moines?
West Des Moines has an effective property tax rate of 1.602%, based on a median home value of $286,300 and median real estate taxes of $4,586. That is lower than the Polk County average of 1.757%.
What is the average home price in West Des Moines?
The median owner-occupied home value in West Des Moines, Iowa is $286,300, against $248,400 across Polk County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in West Des Moines?
Median gross rent in West Des Moines is $1,194 a month, against $2,530 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.
What salary do you need to buy a home in West Des Moines?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in West Des Moines, Iowa at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $108,500 a year. That covers the full $2,530 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for West Des Moines, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Iowa.
- Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
- Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
- Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.