If you’re moving to the Midwest, which Des Moines neighborhoods you pick matters more than almost any other decision. Iowa’s capital keeps climbing quality-of-life rankings — BestNeighborhood.org ranks the metro 5th of 387 U.S. metros on its 2026–2027 index — and below are the 10 neighborhoods that scored highest in a 2026 data-driven ranking of income, home values, crime, unemployment, and population density.
TL;DR: Waterbury is the #1 neighborhood in Des Moines for 2026, with the city’s highest median income ($145,591). Linden Heights has the highest home values ($357,000), while Beaverdale offers the most established community feel with 143 city blocks and 50 acres of parks. Average rent citywide is $1,096 — well below the national average.
How These Des Moines Neighborhoods Were Ranked
This list follows HomeSnacks’ 2026 ranking of all 51 Des Moines neighborhoods, scoring each area on income, unemployment, crime, home values, and population density using FBI, Census, and BLS data. Areas were ranked 1 to 51 in each category, and the averages produced a single index; all figures below draw on U.S. Census ACS 2020–2024 data.
The 10 Best Des Moines Neighborhoods for 2026
1. Waterbury — The City’s Top-Ranked Neighborhood
Waterbury takes the #1 spot, and the numbers explain why. Its $145,591 median household income is the highest of any Des Moines neighborhood — 94% above the Iowa statewide median. Median home values sit at $296,550, and the area is home to about 2,817 residents.
2. Ingersoll Park — Small Pocket, Big Scores
With only 641 residents, Ingersoll Park is one of the smallest neighborhoods on this list — but it ranks second overall. Median income runs $73,304 and the typical home is valued at $236,200. It takes its name from Ingersoll Avenue, one of the corridors anchoring the city’s dining, retail, and entertainment scene.
3. Salisbury Oaks — Upscale and Established
Salisbury Oaks pairs a $95,572 median income with $338,750 median home values — among the priciest figures on this list. Its 1,209 residents live in one of the metro’s most established residential pockets.
4. Greenwood — Strong Scores Without the Premium
Greenwood’s 1,101 residents report a $70,557 median income and $276,100 median home values, ranking fourth overall — strong marks across the board without the price tags of the top three.
5. Waveland Park — Incomes That Punch Above Home Prices
Waveland Park is the largest neighborhood in the top five, with 3,156 residents, pairing a strong $90,268 median income — the second-highest of any area on this list — with a relatively accessible $201,533 median home value.
6. Linden Heights — Des Moines’ Priciest Home Values
This small enclave of 441 residents posts an $82,279 median income alongside the $357,000 figure, landing it sixth on the overall index.
7. Beaverdale — The Neighborhood Everyone Knows
Beaverdale is Des Moines’ largest established neighborhood — 143 city blocks and 9,096 residents — known for its historic red-brick Tudor-style homes and roughly 50 acres of public parks, including Ashby, Beaverdale, and Witmer parks. Median income is $72,005 with a $175,960 median home value — one of the most affordable routes into the top 10.
8. Lower Beaver — An Approachable Entry Point
Lower Beaver’s 5,951 residents make it the second-largest neighborhood on this list, with a $67,550 median income and $165,500 median home value — 29% below the Iowa median.
9. North of Grand — Character on a Budget
North of Grand rounds out the top tier with 2,928 residents, a $50,678 median income, and a $150,700 median home value — 35% below the statewide median.
10. Woodland Heights — The Most Affordable of the Best
Woodland Heights closes the list with the lowest home values in the top 10 — a $137,767 median, 41% below the Iowa median — and a $48,632 median income across 2,179 residents.
What It Costs to Live in Des Moines
One reason movers land here: the money goes far. As of February 2026, average rent is $1,096 a month versus $1,740 nationally, per RentCafe, and overall costs run about 15% below the U.S. average. RentCafe names Fort Des Moines, Pioneer Park, and Southwestern Hills for budget renters — the last also ranks #16 on the HomeSnacks list. Comparing Midwest options? See our guide to the best neighborhoods in Indianapolis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best neighborhood in Des Moines?
Waterbury ranks #1 in HomeSnacks’ 2026 analysis of all 51 Des Moines neighborhoods, leading on median income ($145,591). Ingersoll Park and Salisbury Oaks rank second and third.
What is the most expensive neighborhood in Des Moines?
Linden Heights leads all 51 Des Moines neighborhoods with a $357,000 median home value. Salisbury Oaks ($338,750) and Waterbury ($296,550) are next.
What are the most affordable neighborhoods in Des Moines?
RentCafe names Fort Des Moines, Pioneer Park, and Southwestern Hills for budget renters. Among top-10 areas, Woodland Heights ($137,767) and Lower Beaver ($165,500) have the lowest home values.
What is the average rent in Des Moines?
The average rent in Des Moines is $1,096 per month as of February 2026, according to RentCafe — well below the national average rent of $1,740.
Is Des Moines affordable compared to the rest of the US?
Yes. Des Moines’ cost of living is about 15% below the U.S. average and 9% below the Iowa state average, per RentCafe’s February 2026 figures.
Which Des Moines neighborhoods are best for families?
Beaverdale suits families well: the city’s largest established neighborhood (143 blocks) with about 50 acres of public parks and classic brick homes. Waveland Park pairs the second-highest income on this list with accessible home prices.
Which Des Moines neighborhood ranked worst?
New Vision came in last — 51st of 51 — in HomeSnacks’ 2026 ranking, which weighs income, home values, crime, unemployment, and population density.
