Des Moines is a city in King County, Washington, home to about 32,823 people across 6.4 square miles. Its ZIP code is 98198, and parts of 98148 are in Des Moines too.
Homes sold for a median of $361 per square foot in the three months ending August 2026, a seller’s market.
Mostly Des Moines; also SeaTac
Mostly Burien; part is in Des Moines
Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Des Moines. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology
We’re writing up Des Moines’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.
Are you a local agent who knows Des Moines well? Agents who advertise here will be able to write the guide. Advertise on OfferBacked
| Nearest major airport | Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA)4 miles away |
|---|---|
| Nearest city of 250,000+ | Seattle, WA16 miles away |
Straight-line distances from the center of Des Moines; driving is longer.
Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.
Des Moines had 32,888 residents in the 2020 census, up 12% since 2000.
It’s the 42nd largest of 628 towns in Washington by population.
King County grew from 110,053 residents in 1900 to 2,269,675 in 2020.
King County, 1900–2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).
Average highs peak around 78°F in summer, and winter lows average 37°F. About 39.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year, with about 6 inches of snow.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Seattle Tacoma Intl Ap, WA weather station (3 miles away).
1,305,947 jobs at 70,376 businesses in King County. The biggest industries by employees:
Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).
219 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Des Moines.
Nearest hospitals
Providers with an office here
| Primary care doctors | 49 |
|---|---|
| Specialist doctors | 3 |
| Dentists | 29 |
| Nurse practitioners and physician assistants | 20 |
| Mental health providers | 65 |
| Physical and occupational therapists | 36 |
| Optometrists | 1 |
| Chiropractors | 16 |
| Pharmacies | 8 |
Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances; providers from the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), by practice address and primary specialty.
Parks (25 nearby)
Grocery stores (6 nearby)
Pharmacies (3 nearby)
Libraries (1 nearby)
Museums (1 nearby)
Theaters and performance venues
Counts are within about 2 miles of the center of town.
Source: Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (openstreetmap.org/copyright), as mapped by volunteers; it can miss places or include closed ones.
Established in 1959.
Source: Wikidata (wikidata.org), the free knowledge base; people are listed by place of birth.
Public schools here are run by Highline School District, Kent School District, Federal Way School District and others. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.
| School | Grades | Students | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines ElementaryDes Moines | Pre-K–5 | 500 | Public | 0.5 mi |
| Madrona ElementarySeaTac | Pre-K–5 | 317 | Public | 1.9 mi |
| Midway ElementaryDes Moines | Pre-K–5 | 548 | Public | 0.6 mi |
| North Hill ElementaryDes Moines | Pre-K–5 | 518 | Public | 2.1 mi |
| Parkside ElementaryDes Moines | Pre-K–5 | 535 | Public | 1.1 mi |
| River Ridge ElementarySeaTac | Pre-K–5 | 697 | Public | 1.2 mi |
| Woodmont K-8 SchoolDes Moines | K–8 | 402 | Public | 2.3 mi |
| Pacific Middle SchoolDes Moines | 6–8 | 604 | Public | 0.5 mi |
| Cascade Public SchoolsDes Moines | 9–12 | 126 | Charter | 0.8 mi |
| Gateway to CollegeDes Moines | 9–12 | — | Alternative Education | 0.7 mi |
| Maritime High SchoolDes Moines | 9–12 | 126 | Public | 1.9 mi |
| Mount Rainier High SchoolDes Moines | 9–12 | 1,846 | Public | 0.4 mi |
| School | Grades | Students | Affiliation | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holy Trinity Lutheran SchoolDes Moines | Pre-K–8 | 186 | Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod | 1.9 mi |
| St Philomena SchoolDes Moines | Pre-K–8 | 261 | Roman Catholic | 0.6 mi |
| K-SchoolDes Moines | 1–12 | 38 | Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod | 1.9 mi |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools; Private School Universe Survey (2023-2024) for private schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.
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Shares ZIP codes with Burien and SeaTac.
Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.