Where are the jobs?
Where are the jobs?
Affordability
Housing cost burden
Among households earning under $50,000 in Des Moines, an estimated 15122 households are paying more than they can afford for a home they rent, and 9057 households are paying more than they can afford for a home they own.
Cost burden refers to a household paying more than 30% of income on housing.
Severe cost burden refers to a household paying more than 50% of income on housing.
Housing cost burdens can break apart family budgets. High housing costs take up money otherwise needed for transportation, education, and other basic necessities.
Wages needed to afford housing
The National Low Income Housing Coalition releases an annual estimate of the hourly wage a person would need to earn to afford a typical two bedroom apartment. Here's local data:
Zip Code | Housing Wage |
|---|---|
50320 | $17.69 |
50321 | $17.50 |
50309 | $17.31 |
50310 | $18.27 |
50311 | $15.77 |
50312 | $16.35 |
50313 | $18.27 |
50314 | $15.96 |
50315 | $16.73 |
50316 | $16.54 |
50317 | $17.50 |
Wages paid by essential jobs
The National Housing Conference's Paycheck to Paycheck report highlights the wages commonly paid by important occupations in our region:
Childcare worker
$13.86/hour
Retail salesperson
$12.56/hour
Home health/personal care aide
$13.86/hour
Restaurant cook
$14.39/hour
Income Profile
Number of households in poverty
33,759
That's 16% of the population.
Number of households earning under $50k/year
39,135
Median household income
$54,843
Housing Stock
Number of housing units
93,052
Percentage that are occupied
92%
Median value, owner occupied home
$141,300
Median rent
$881
Percentage of all housing units that are...
Owner occupied
60%
Renter occupied
40%
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A city's zoning map provides a picture of what type of housing may be built in which areas.
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Find contact information for the city's elected leaders.
About the data
You are viewing Community Profiles v 2.0 last updated in November, 2022.
Community data is drawn from the 2016-2020 American Community Survey with analysis by the Polk County Housing Trust Fund. Job map data is from the US Census Bureau, Center for Economic Studies, LEHD via On the Map. Other data sources are noted where shown.
