This section is generated from cached city metrics and clearly labeled state-level benchmarks. It is meant to make the Des Moines page less generic and more useful for comparing housing, income, utilities, taxes, insurance, demographics, and nearby alternatives.
Affordability Summary
Population is 32,545, so Des Moines should be compared with similar-size places before using broader Washington averages. Median household income is $89,787, so the best affordability read for Des Moines is income versus housing, taxes, utilities, and insurance together.
Median home value is $539,800, so ownership costs in Des Moines should be checked with mortgage, property tax, insurance, and maintenance assumptions. Two-bedroom rent is $1,727/mo, so renters can compare Des Moines against ownership costs and nearby rental markets.
Housing and Income Context
For Des Moines, income is solid, so housing and taxes usually decide the budget picture. Home values are elevated enough that taxes and financing terms can move the total cost.
Use the home value, rent, and income fields together before deciding whether Des Moines looks more favorable for renting, buying, or comparing with Lakeland North, WA.
Utility Cost Context
The residential electricity benchmark is $0.144/kWh, so Des Moines households should treat usage, home size, heating, and cooling as the practical bill drivers. The electricity value shown for Des Moines is a Washington state-level EIA benchmark, so it should not be read as a local provider tariff.
For Des Moines, utility planning is stronger when the electric benchmark is paired with home age, square footage, insulation, HVAC equipment, and household occupancy.
Property Tax Context
Median property tax paid is $5,467, so Des Moines buyers should still verify parcel-specific tax records before budgeting. Parcel boundaries, exemptions, school districts, and reassessment rules can move the actual bill for a Des Moines address.
Compare the property tax field with home value rather than reading it by itself; a lower tax bill can still pair with a different assessment base or exemption profile.
Insurance and Risk Context
Insurance costs in Des Moines depend on address-level factors such as roof condition, structure age, coverage limits, claims history, deductible choice, and carrier underwriting.
Home value, tax burden, and insurance exposure should be reviewed together for Des Moines, especially when comparing with Lakeland North, WA.
Population and Demographics
Median age is 37.5, so Des Moines may have different school, commute, healthcare, and housing demand patterns than a statewide average. Bachelor+ share is 33.2%, so Des Moines education context can be useful when reading labor-market and school sections.
Unemployment is 5.2%, so Des Moines wage and job-market context should be compared with commute options and regional employment centers.
