Des Moines, IA
Commercial Real Estate Market Trends & Data

$136 Avg asking sale price
$566 Avg asking lease rate
80,663 SF Avg unit lease size
39,040 SF Avg building size for sale
7.81% Average cap rate

Des Moines's Demographic Profile

Des Moines has 89,713 households and a median income of $59,013, providing context for rent absorption and tenant demand across retail and multifamily assets. A +3% five-year population trend is a key signal for evaluating long-term demand in this market.

Key Demographic Metric Value
Population 216,878
# Households 89,713
Median age 36
Median household income $59,013
Avg household size 2.0
Renter-occupied housing units 38,491
5-year population change +3%

{{marketTabHeadings[activeMarketTab]}} Market Metrics Near Des Moines, IA

↻ Updated Monthly

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Nearby Office Markets Avg Cost/SF Typical Size Cap Max
Des Moines $123 33,607 SF 11.80%
Windsor Heights $168 13,915 SF 7.83%
Urbandale $189 22,981 SF 7.50%
Nearby Industrial Markets Avg Cost/SF Typical Size Cap Max
Des Moines $121 60,287 SF 9.11%
Saylorville $190 14,895 SF 6.50%
Nearby Retail Markets Avg Cost/SF Typical Size
Des Moines $179 13,969 SF
Windsor Heights $158 3,000 SF
Saylorville $194 4,886 SF
Altoona $560 7,500 SF
Ankeny $1,657 2,936 SF
Nearby Multifamily Markets Avg Cost/SF Typical Size Cap Max
Des Moines $112 28,851 SF 9.08%
Saylorville $659 4,636 SF 6.50%
Ankeny $440 24,275 SF 7.82%
Urbandale $145 5,016 SF 9.08%
West Des Moines $111 34,504 SF 7.57%

Commercial Properties For Sale in Des Moines

The listings below reflect how current market pricing and building scale translate into active opportunities available today.
For Sale

Commercial Condo | Office Spaces | Class Room

Des Moines, IA 50309

  • 246,022 SF Multifamily
  • Auction Sale
For Sale

4500 NW 6th Dr

Des Moines, IA 50313

  • 9,200 SF Retail Building
  • $680,000
For Sale

219 New York Ave

Des Moines, IA 50313

  • 12,900 SF Industrial Building
  • $1,225,000
For Sale

2721 SW 30th St

Des Moines, IA 50321

  • 3,868 SF Office Building
  • $590,000
For Sale

The Plaza

Des Moines, IA 50309

  • 246,022 SF Multifamily
  • $250,000
For Sale

1326 6th Ave

Des Moines, IA 50314

  • 10,292 SF Office Building
  • $1,150,000

Average Price For Sale

↻ Updated Monthly

Average Price For Lease

↻ Updated Monthly

Number of Listings

↻ Updated Monthly

Cap Rate

↻ Updated Monthly

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Nearby Commercial Markets

Comparing nearby markets helps investors see whether Des Moines pricing and building scale sit above, below, or in line with surrounding areas.

Commercial Markets Avg Cost/SF Average Size
Des Moines $136 39,040 SF
Pleasant Hill $177 3,110 SF
Windsor Heights $102 19,132 SF
Saylorville $283 12,331 SF
Altoona $520 210,544 SF

Multifamily Properties For Sale in Des Moines

For Sale

The Argonne

Des Moines, IA 50309

  • 39,587 SF Multifamily
  • Price Upon Request

Regional Demographic Comparison

This comparison places Des Moines alongside nearby cities to show how population size, household counts, and income levels differ across the region. Viewing these markets side by side helps investors understand whether local demand and income characteristics are concentrated in Des Moines or distributed across surrounding areas.

City Population # Households Age Median Household Income Avg Household Size Renter Occupied Housing Units Five Yr Pop Growth %
Des Moines 216,878 89,713 36 $59,013 2 38,491 3%
Pleasant Hill 11,272 4,408 42 $85,822 3 1,100 5%
Windsor Heights 4,937 2,090 41 $79,608 2 535 1%
Saylorville 3,897 1,493 42 $90,784 3 185 3%
Altoona 20,883 8,044 38 $83,018 3 2,538 5%

Disclaimer: The figures on this page reflect LoopNet's active commercial listings in Des Moines, IA and update as inventory changes. Averages can shift between periods or vary across property types depending on the mix of listings available at a given time, so individual metrics may not reflect broader market trends. These figures are best used as directional benchmarks for early market evaluation. For comprehensive commercial real estate data and analytics, subscribe to CoStar.

FAQs About Commercial Investing in Des Moines

View All Commercial Real Estate For Sale in Des Moines
Is Des Moines a good market for a first-time commercial real estate investor?

Des Moines offers commercial properties across a wide range of sizes and price points. By reviewing the market data and benchmarks on this page, first-time investors can better understand what a typical commercial property looks like before committing capital and narrowing in on specific listings.

How can this market data help me decide whether to buy commercial property for my business in Des Moines?

The pricing and size metrics on this page help business owners compare the cost of ownership against leasing in Des Moines. Typical building sizes and asking prices provide a starting point for evaluating space needs, budget fit, and long term occupancy costs before engaging lenders or brokers.

What should conservative investors focus on when evaluating commercial properties in Des Moines?

Conservative investors often prioritize manageable deal sizes, stable pricing ranges, and cap rate benchmarks shown for Des Moines. These metrics help assess whether current market conditions support steady income potential without relying on aggressive assumptions.

How does Des Moines compare to nearby commercial real estate markets?

Nearby market comparisons highlight differences in pricing, building scale, and cap rate ranges relative to Des Moines. Reviewing these side by side helps experienced investors identify relative value, pricing premiums, or alternative markets that may better align with return targets.

How can this page support early-stage deal screening for Des Moines acquisitions?

This page provides high-level benchmarks for pricing, deal size, and observed cap rates in Des Moines, which are useful for initial market filtering. Institutional and data-driven investors often use these signals to prioritize listings that meet size, pricing, and return thresholds before deeper underwriting.

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