If you've been telling friends in other states that Des Moines is a great place to buy a home, you now have a national report to back you up. In September 2026, Realtor.com released its first Metro Affordability and Homebuilding Report Cards, grading the 100 largest metro areas in the country. The Des Moines metro came out on top with an A+ and an overall score of 83.4 out of 100, just ahead of Raleigh, North Carolina.

What the ranking actually measures

The report gave equal weight to two things: how affordable homes are for the people who live here, and how much new housing the area is building. Des Moines scored 88.3 on affordability and 78.4 on homebuilding.

On affordability, Realtor.com estimated the monthly mortgage payment on a median-priced home in the metro takes about 27.5% of median household income. Housing is usually considered affordable when it's under 30% of income, so the typical local household lands inside that line.

On homebuilding, the metro's permit-to-population ratio was 1.85. In plain English, the Des Moines area is permitting about 85% more new homes than you'd expect based on its share of the U.S. population. More building means more choices for buyers over time and less pressure on prices.

What it doesn't mean

The ranking isn't saying Des Moines has the cheapest homes in America. The report noted a median listing price of roughly $350,000, and much of its data came from 2025 listings. It's a measure of how home prices compare to local incomes, and how well supply is keeping up with demand.

It also doesn't mean every home is affordable for every buyer. A metro-wide median hides a lot. Prices in Waukee, Ankeny or West Des Moines can look very different from prices in Des Moines' older neighborhoods or the smaller towns around the metro.

How to use this as a buyer

  • Start with your budget, not the headline. Use the affordability calculator to see a comfortable price range based on your income and debts.
  • Look at new construction. Strong building activity means more new homes to choose from, and builders often offer incentives. See my guide to evaluating builder incentives.
  • Check down payment help. Iowa has grant and assistance programs many buyers never hear about. Here's the 2026 rundown.
  • Compare suburbs by more than price. Property taxes, school districts and commute all affect what a home really costs you each month.

My take

I've lent in this market since 2014, and this ranking matches what I see every day. People relocating from bigger cities are surprised at how much home their income buys here. Local first-time buyers still need a plan, though, especially with insurance and other costs rising. If you want to know what "affordable" looks like for your situation, that's exactly the conversation I like to have.