2025 Compare Cities Housing:
Des Moines, IA vs Indianapolis, IN

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Highlights
- The median age of a home in Des Moines is 18.0% older than the median age of a home in Indianapolis.
 Des Moines, IAIndianapolis, INUnited States
 Median Home Age61  Unlock42
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$221,900$338,100
 Home Appr. Last 12 months13.1%  Unlock16.6%
 Home Appr. Last 5 yrs.  Unlock67.7%57.0%
 Home Appr. Last 10 yrs.72.3%  Unlock101.1%
 Property Tax Rate  Unlock$10.1$11.0
 Homes Owned55.3%  Unlock57.4%
 Housing Vacant  Unlock10.9%11.2%
 Homes Rented36.9%  Unlock31.4%
 space
 Avg Rent For Home Or Apartment
 Des Moines, IAIndianapolis, INUnited States
 Average Rent  Unlock$1,410$1,840
 Studio Apartment$750  Unlock$1,080
 1 Bedroom Home or Apartment  Unlock$920$1,180
 2 Bedroom Home or Apartment$1,020  Unlock$1,430
 3 Bedroom Home or Apartment  Unlock$1,430$1,860
 4 Bedroom Home or Apartment$1,430  Unlock$2,160
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 Vacant Housing
 Des Moines, IAIndianapolis, INUnited States
 Vacant For Rent  Unlock2.8%1.9%
 Vacant Rented0.5%  Unlock0.4%
 Vacant For Sale  Unlock0.6%0.7%
 Vacant Sold0.5%  Unlock0.4%
 Vacant Vacation  Unlock0.2%3.6%
 Vacant Other3.6%  Unlock4.1%
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 Owner-Occupied Housing Value
 Des Moines, IAIndianapolis, INUnited States
 Less Than $20,000  Unlock2.0%2.6%
 $20,000 to $39,9991.3%  Unlock2.4%
 $40,000 to $59,999  Unlock4.0%2.8%
 $60,000 to $79,9995.3%  Unlock3.9%
 $80,000 to $99,999  Unlock8.0%4.5%
 $100,000 to $149,99929.3%  Unlock11.3%
 $150,000 to $199,999  Unlock20.6%13.0%
 $200,000 to $299,99917.0%  Unlock20.1%
 $300,000 to $399,999  Unlock7.2%13.6%
 $400,000 to $499,9991.5%  Unlock8.3%
 $500,000 to $749,999  Unlock2.9%9.7%
 $750,000 to $999,9990.4%  Unlock3.9%
 $1,000,000 to $1,499,999  Unlock0.5%2.2%
 $1,500,000 to $1,999,9990.1%  Unlock0.8%
 $2,000,000 and over  Unlock0.2%1.1%
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 Housing Units By Year Built
 Des Moines, IAIndianapolis, INUnited States
 2015 and Newer0.1%  Unlock0.2%
 2010 to 2014  Unlock9.2%13.6%
 2000 to 20096.7%  Unlock13.6%
 1990 to 1999  Unlock12.5%13.6%
 1980 to 19896.4%  Unlock13.2%
 1970 to 1979  Unlock12.9%14.8%
 1960 to 19697.0%  Unlock13.6%
 1950 to 1959  Unlock12.8%10.0%
 1940 to 19497.8%  Unlock4.7%
 1939 or Earlier  Unlock16.3%12.2%
Reviews for Des Moines    53 Reviews

Des Moines is a ok and pretty quiet place but as a teen it could be dramatic because Des Moines do have is fair or violents places to avoid in Des Moines would be the  More

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Dude · 
Over 5 years ago

This city is violent, there are too many gangs especially on the north  More

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Over 6 years ago

Good for the old that like slow pace and cheap buffets. Also good for non-descript mid-westerners that don't like a lot of action. No nightlife or mountains to hike  More

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Reviews for Indianapolis    154 Reviews

I lived in Indianapolis for over 23 years, and I really miss the laidback: easy lifestyle there. The prices of most items are lower than elsewhere in the US, including  More

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No car? This city is built for cars. Not friendly to pedestrians; the lack of sidewalks is confounding. Public transportation is limited, with a "spoke wheel" layout  More

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Over 4 years ago

This is a response to another review, but everything I say here is true and I have been a lifelong Indy resident and feel this needs said. The only factual part is  More

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