$87,288/yr
is the income needed to buy the typical $296,070 home in Des Moines, IA at today's 6.47% rate — about $2,037/mo. The local median household ($84,209) falls $3,079 short.
The math (shown)
296,070 price − 10% down (29,607) = 266,463 loan
30-yr fixed at 6.47% on 266,463 = 1,679/mo principal+interest
+ 358/mo est. taxes+insurance (1.45%/yr of value — national placeholder)
2,037/mo PITI ÷ 0.28 = 7,274/mo → 87,288/yr required
against Zillow ZHVI 2026-05 (Zillow ZHVI (typical home value, smoothed, all-homes 33–67pct tier)) and the 6.47% FRED 30-yr rate (2026-06-18). Local median income: $84,209 (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year, median household income (table B19013)).
Can I afford Des Moines, IA on my salary?
Your salary:
Rent vs own here
Honest null: HUD FMR needs a free huduser.gov token (env.HUD_TOKEN). Honest-null until set. (HUD FMR needs a free token; not wired here.)
FAQ
How much do I need to make to live in Des Moines, IA?
To buy the typical home, about $87,288/yr. Renting needs less; this page sizes the buy.
What home value is this based on?
Zillow's ZHVI typical-home-value for the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro (2026-05): $296,070.
Is the mortgage rate current?
Yes — 6.47% from FRED's weekly 30-year fixed average (2026-06-18).
Glossary
ZHVI
Zillow Home Value Index — the typical home value for a region (35th–65th percentile, smoothed, seasonally adjusted).
Front-end DTI
Housing payment as a share of gross income; lenders commonly cap it near 28%.
PITI
Principal, Interest, Taxes, and Insurance — the full monthly housing cost.