America’s heartland housing market is heating up quickly.
Homebuyers are ditching coastal cities and major metros like Los Angeles, New York and Chicago only to discover that Des Moines, Iowa — once a so-called ‘flyover’ area no one thought twice about — is actually a compelling alternative.
Local experts say it’s the hottest city in the Midwest right now for its bustling downtown and vibrant arts and food scene.
According to Tiffany Tauscheck, CEO of the Greater Des Moines Partnership, Des Moines area has seen a 6.3 percent population surge since 2020, making it the fastest-growing major city in the Midwest.
With single family homes available at around $120,000, an exploding restaurant scene, and a safe, family-friendly vibe, the once-sleepy city is on the rise.
‘With the cost of living 12 percent below the national average and one of the lowest income tax rates in the country, Greater Des Moines is both affordable and livable,’ Tauscheck told the Daily Mail.
‘We’re investing heavily in infrastructure, placemaking, and strategic development to ensure Des Moines remains a great place to live, work, and grow.’
It’s not all cornfields and political caucuses, local realtor Jason Stuyvesant added.
Local experts say Des Moines is the hottest city in the Midwest right now
Tiffany Tauscheck, CEO of the Greater Des Moines Partnership
Des Moines is now home to many remote workers, retirees, families, and even bi-coastal expats fleeing $5,000 a month shoebox apartments, he explained.
According to a new study by Extra Space Storage, it’s number three on the list of the best mid-sized cities in the US.
Reader’s Digest this year named Des Moines the most livable city in America.
Plus, it’s the number seven safest city to live in the US, according to US News & World Report.
Forbes, meanwhile, names it among the top 10 places to kickstart a career.
Stuyvesant says people come to visit and are pleasantly surprised.
‘Des Moines has a lot of the things that you find in bigger Midwest cities like Kansas City or Minneapolis — award-winning chefs, a nationally recognized art center, several music venues with big acts coming through — but we remain much more affordable,’ he told the Daily Mail.
‘People want more for their money and a better quality of life. Des Moines delivers both.’
Reader’s Digest this year named Des Moines the most livable city in America
People want more for their money and a better quality of life — Des Moines delivers both
Homebuyers are ditching coastal cities and major metros for the picturesque city
Local Des Moines realtor Jason Stuyvesant
The low cost of living helps too.
With a median home price of just $120,000 and average rents at $775 a month, Des Moines is nearly 25 percent cheaper than the national average.
Compared to New York and LA, it’s about 40 percent cheaper.
Stuyvesant says that overall, Des Moines offers value that few other cities can match.
‘I’ve helped people from the coasts move here,’ he said.
‘They’re like, «I’m paying $5,000 a month for a one-bedroom apartment. I could go pay half of that and own a four-bedroom house in Iowa — and keep my remote job.»‘
Des Moines is also family-friendly and culturally rich.
‘There are lots of young families both in the city and in the suburbs,’ Stuyvesant added.
The city is about to hit one million residents, but it is expanding to accommodate the influx
Des Moines is also home to a a world-class arts center designed in part by I.M. Pei, and is home to a sculpture park valued at over $15 million
Des Moines is also a major hub for several key industries, including the insurance business
‘You can find your people here. Des Moines has a pretty big political mix compared to the rest of Iowa — different viewpoints and belief systems. You can find your tribe.
‘I have friends from larger cities who come visit, and they’re always surprised by just how much we offer.’
It has also become a pretty big foodie city, he said, with the city boasting multiple James Beard-nominated chefs.
‘We’ve got tons of farmers’ markets. When people in Brooklyn advertise «farm-to-table» restaurants, I joke — in Iowa, we just call that food. Anything you want to eat can be grown within a 100-mile radius.’
Des Moines is also home to a world-class arts center designed in part by I.M. Pei, and is home to a sculpture park valued at over $15 million.
Despite its smaller size, Des Moines is also a major hub for several key industries, including the insurance business.
‘We’ve got Principal here, we’ve got EMC, Blue Cross Blue Shield, a lot of really big carriers,’ Stuyvesant said.
Despite its smaller size, Des Moines also has a hot job market with many businesses
Des Moines has plenty of year-round festivals, fairs, and lots of local farmer’s markets
The Raccoon River and the Des Moines River both flow through Des Moines
It’s also a safe place to raise a family.
‘There’s not a single place in Des Moines that I’m afraid of, compared to other cities I’ve been to,’ Stuyvesant said.
‘The worst neighborhood in Des Moines would probably be like a mid-level neighborhood in a lot of cities in America.’
And the city’s growth isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
Nearly 1,400 brand-new apartments are expected downtown by 2026, and a $400 million civic campus is under development in nearby Waukee.
The population is nearing one million people — yet it still feels manageable.
‘It’s quite frankly why I’m still here,’ Stuyvesant said.
