Renting in the Des Moines area (to move, studio, resident)

[MitchMZ]

I agree that bad areas of Des Moines aren't nearly as bad as some cities, but there are many areas that are not to be taken lightly. We have had numerous issues with crime in our area here in Des Moines; which many consider to be a decent area. I don't care to live on the South or East sides anymore.

For something nice that allows pets, renting in Des Moines is actually pretty expensive even compared to many cities.

All that being said, Des Moines is a great place to call home and has a wonderful downtown for a city of its size!

[Repubocrat]

Originally Posted by MitchMZ

I agree that bad areas of Des Moines aren't nearly as bad as some cities, but there are many areas that are not to be taken lightly. We have had numerous issues with crime in our area here in Des Moines; which many consider to be a decent area. I don't care to live on the South or East sides anymore.

For something nice that allows pets, renting in Des Moines is actually pretty expensive even compared to many cities.

All that being said, Des Moines is a great place to call home and has a wonderful downtown for a city of its size!

Agree 100%, I have lived here at Prairie Woods on Hubbell(East Side) since January and although I have never had problems with security, my main problem I have with the East Side is the type of people who live on this side of town. No offense, but some of my neighbors seem to go out of their way to make this apartment complex look like a trailer park, I have found empty bottles of booze sitting by our front door, disgusting!

I have to agree with you, it has been very hard to find a reasonably priced apartment complex that allows pets. I looked in places like Urbandale and some of the apartment complexes there are so old and so unreasonably priced.

I considered Altoona, but most of the apartment complexes in Altoona have income restrictions. I am moving out of here in October and I am probably moving to Huxley, Slater or even Ames, I am done with living in the city.

[caliiowa]

In my opinion, the only area of Des Moines that you would want to avoid walking at night would be north of the freeway I235 around Martin Luther King Jr Pkwy or in and around the drake neighborhood. Most areas of Des Moines are pretty safe. Coming from Miami, I doubt anything in Des Moines would scare you.

[Dopefish]

What's the average rent cost for a one bedroom apartment in Des Moines?

[capitalcityguy]

An average probably isn't that helpful of a number since an apartment downtown would be much more than one on the east side of town.

[smartchiq]

In my opinion u all are ignorant. Des Moines has no ghetto. Try Compton, Marcy projects, or Dade county. As for section 8 everyone on the program isn't white trash or ghetto. Majority of this program is made up of veterans and elderly. The rest are single parents and college students. I know personally because I worked for the Municipal Housing Authority as a case manager in Des Moines before I moved to New York. I have also been on section 8 housing myself in the past. I was a young teenager in college who lost both of my parents and had a younger brother and sister to take care of. I worked two jobs, went to school, and had to pay for school, bills, and living expenses for my siblings and I. Everyone has a struggle so Noone is in a position to judge if u don't know exactly what their struggle is. To me Des Moines well Iowa period is a place where u get ur education and go, and possible come back when u decide to retire. This isn't a place of great opportunity for young adults.

[capitalcityguy]

Originally Posted by smartchiq

. To me Des Moines well Iowa period is a place where u get ur education and go, and possible come back when u decide to retire. This isn't a place of great opportunity for young adults.

There are plenty of people that would disagree:

Des Moines #1 City for Young Professionals (July 12, Forbes)
Des Moines is rated the #2 place for business and careers by Forbes (June 29, Forbes)
Iowa is first in the nation for cost of doing business, and among the top ten states for doing business overall (June 29, CNBC Special Report)
U.S. News Says Des Moines is Richest Metro Area (June 2, U.S. News & World Report)
Greater Des Moines ranks #2 in the Midwest and #16 nationwide for small business and population growth. (April 14, The Business Journals)

[Stavemaster]

Originally Posted by Dopefish

What's the average rent cost for a one bedroom apartment in Des Moines?

$685 for 1 bedroom, $770 for 2 in Des Moines proper. (http://http://www.apartmentratings.com/rate?a=MSAAvgRentalPrice&msa=2120 - broken link)

Want to make a San Franciscan laugh? Use the words "Des Moines", "rent", and "expensive" in the same sentence.

[El Rhino]

Originally Posted by smartchiq

In my opinion u all are ignorant. Des Moines has no ghetto. Try Compton, Marcy projects, or Dade county.

Right. So if any of you ever find yourself on the corner of MLK and Mondamin some night or a section 8 (that's NOT filled with the elderly and veterans) apartment complex on the SE side, just tell yourself that at least it isn't Compton. Next time someone tries to rob me I'll just close my eyes, click my heels and repeat "at least it isn't Detroit".



Seriously, just because one area is worse than another doesn't mean that the better of the two is going to be a desirable or safe place to be. That's like saying "Compton isn't bad, try Mogadishu or Port au Prince".


I'd also like to point out that I'm not one of those people that somehow feels a higher sense of self-worth because they live/lived in or near a ghetto - I'm just saying that what happens in Compton doesn't make parts of Des Moines any nicer and appropriate precautions should be taken.

[tollfree]

It may not be "ghetto" in the sense of Gary IN. A lot of the East/North side does look rough, to the point if you swapped it with Gary, IN there wouldn't be much difference, besides the racial differences in the cities. MLK/Mondamin area as pointed out, looks the same as the bad areas in any Detroit, Chicago, St. Louis, etc.

It's just that Des Moines isn't recognized as such.

As for what smartchiq is saying, she has a point. If someone is looking to get into the insurance or banking business and settle down, this a great place (as long as they don't mind cold weather 8 months out of the year with extremely cold weather 4 of those months). If someone wants to be surrounded by exciting nightlife, fashion, beaches, while they are young - and can afford it. Miami is probably going to be more interesting than not only Des Moines, but anywhere in the midwest.