The story of this market
The typical home in ZIP 50311 sells for about $230,000, or $172 per square foot.
Prices are up +5.5% from a year ago, so sellers still have some momentum. Homes take about 28 days to sell, which is fast. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $1,250 a month.
This ZIP has no home sales of its own, so its market figures come from Des Moines, Iowa (city-level). Population, rents, hazards, lending and amenities are this ZIP's own readings.
ZIP 50311 — Des Moines
The 50311 housing market is currently balanced, characterized by stable pricing and moderate inventory levels. While the area offers accessible entry points for buyers, investors face challenges in achieving immediate cash flow due to the local demographic and economic profile. Market activity remains steady, supported by the consistent demand from the university-adjacent population.
This ZIP is well-suited for investors seeking value-add opportunities, university-affiliated renters, and first-time homebuyers looking for historic charm within a short commute to the city center.
Median prices moved up 5.5% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 28 days on market with 2.8 months of supply — a fast-moving market.
21% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 98.4% of asking — demand is running ahead of supply.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 5.7% · poverty 18.8% — a mixed stability profile.
Built from 27 recorded sales in the last 24 months against HUD 3-bedroom fair market rents. The location premium is the part of the price that rent, income, education, employment, vacancy, price trend, hazard, lending and flood risk don't explain. It usually reflects amenities, schools and scarcity. It's area context and does not change this ZIP's home value estimates.
versus the prior ACS vintage
in-migration and out-migration balanced
ZCTA 50311, Polk County IA
ACS 2024 5-year estimates. Aggregate published statistics for this ZIP — never individual records, and never an attribute of any individual property or resident.
The area is served by Des Moines Public Schools, which faces ongoing challenges with academic performance and resource allocation typical of urban districts.
The area is subject to standard Midwestern climate risks, including severe thunderstorms and occasional wind events, with flood risk localized to specific low-lying areas near the Des Moines River tributaries.
Economic momentum is anchored by the proximity to Drake University and downtown Des Moines, with ongoing efforts to revitalize historic residential corridors.
Property taxes are assessed by Polk County based on market value, with rates determined by a combination of city, county, and school district levies.
Residents benefit from a central location with short drive times to downtown Des Moines and major employment hubs via University Avenue and I-235.
The area features proximity to Waveland Park and the Drake University campus, offering access to green spaces, walking trails, and local retail/dining along the Ingersoll and University corridors.
The rental market is heavily influenced by the student population at Drake University, leading to consistent demand for multi-family and single-family rentals with moderate vacancy pressure.
The local economy is driven by education, healthcare, and financial services, with Drake University serving as the primary institutional employer within the ZIP.
The area is well-connected to the regional transit network, with primary access provided by the I-235 expressway and arterial roads leading to the downtown core.
Development activity is largely focused on the adaptive reuse of historic properties and small-scale infill projects near the university.
The Polk County Assessor maintains a biennial assessment cycle, utilizing mass appraisal techniques to determine property values for tax purposes.
Parcels are subject to Des Moines Independent Community School District levies and various municipal utility district assessments.
Property insurance premiums in the region are influenced by exposure to severe weather events, with a trend toward rising costs for older housing stock.
Data retrieved from data.census.gov for ZCTA 50311.
Public schools whose reported address is in this area (NCES). Not attendance boundaries — schools that serve residents may sit outside it. Check the district's address locator for assignment.
- Adventureland Park4.310 mi
- Spare Time Des Moines4.27.3 mi
- Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park4.28 mi
- Sky Zone Trampoline Park4.37.6 mi
- B&B Theatres Ankeny 12 & B-Roll Bowling4.58.5 mi
- Iowa State Fairgrounds4.66.3 mi
- Adventureland Park4.310 mi
- Casey's Center4.52.8 mi
- Iowa Events Center4.52.8 mi
- Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden4.73.2 mi
- Adventureland Park4.310 mi
- Blank Park Zoo4.56.1 mi
- Iowa State Capitol4.83.7 mi
- Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden4.73.2 mi
- The Palms Theatres & IMAX4.79.9 mi
- Iowa State Capitol4.83.7 mi
- Science Center of Iowa4.43 mi
- Pappajohn Sculpture Park4.62.3 mi
- Des Moines Art Center4.61.2 mi
- Hoyt Sherman Place4.82 mi
- Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden4.73.2 mi
- Raccoon River Park4.74.1 mi
- Prairie Ridge Sports Complex4.510.4 mi
- Waukee Triumph Park4.611.1 mi
- ARL Animal Rescue League of Iowa4.36.3 mi
- Captain Roy's4.63.4 mi
- Saylorville Lake Marina4.710.9 mi
- Big Creek Marina4.615.7 mi
- Beaver Creek Golf Club3.99.7 mi
- Toad Valley Golf Course4.212.1 mi
- Woodland Hills Golf Course4.86.5 mi
- Tournament Club of Iowa4.412.5 mi
- Golf Galaxy3.84.7 mi
- Jordan Creek Town Center4.57 mi
- Outlets of Des Moines4.39.2 mi
- Merle Hay Mall42.5 mi
- Fleet Farm4.69.2 mi
- Des Moines International Airport4.34.6 mi
Theme parks, venues, golf, airports, museums, water and shopping across the area from Google Maps, ranked by popularity within the radius shown.
A major community park offering green space and recreational facilities.
A private university serving as a major cultural and economic anchor for the neighborhood.
Deterministic aggregate of 1 researched property in this ZIP (latest reading each) — each property weighs one; per point, properties lacking the value are excluded. Property-level records (taxes, scores, permits) never roll individually.
No county-record distress flags across 1 researched property on the ARED base layer. Key-figure check: median price diverges 63.6% from the nearest retained anchor (researched-property base layer) — beyond the 12.5% tolerance; an automated validation case is open and the value publishes pending its verdict. Validation: the flagged $235,000 could not be independently corroborated and was removed pending review (no prior-cycle value to revert to); the case is under review in the Command Center.