Bedroom count
Property type
Last updated on October 29, 2026
Average rent in
Merle Hay, Des Moines, IA
Average rent in
Last updated on October 29, 2026
Bedroom count
Property type
Median rent
Median rent in Merle Hay
$1,005/mo
9%vs previous year
The average rent in Merle Hay is $1,005 per month as of October 2026. This is 47% below the national average rent, or $895 less per month.
average price per square foot
Total rentals
Available rentals in Merle Hay
17
for rent on Zumper.com as of October 2026
Rent price distribution
Share of Merle Hay rentals at each price point
Rent trends in Merle Hay, Des Moines, IA
Average rent prices in Merle Hay have increased by 2% over the last month and have decreased by 9% since last year.
Rent trends
Rent prices on this page are calculated on a rolling 30-day basis and updated daily.
Compare rent prices in
Merle Hay, Des Moines, IA
Rent prices in Merle Hay vary by bedroom size, rental type, and neighborhood. The average rent for an apartment in Merle Hay is $895, whereas a house costs $1,550. 1-bedroom apartments in Merle Hay run $895 on average, while 2-bedroom apartments are $912.
Listings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Studio | $740 | 4% |  14% | |
1 bedroom | $895 | 6% | 2% | |
2 bedroom | $1,095 | 9% | No Change | |
3 bedroom | $1,575 | 1% | 12% | |
4 bedroom | $2,850 | No Change | 54% |
Listings | ||
|---|---|---|
Beaverdale | $900 | |
Downtown Des Moines | $1,250 | |
Drake | $865 | |
Lower Beaver | $900 | |
Meredith | $900 | |
Waveland Park | $820 |
Listings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Apartments | $895 | 1% | 1% | |
Condos | $1,425 | 26% | 120% | |
Houses | $1,550 | 8% | 15% |
Studio
Average rent
$740
Last 30 days
4%
Last year
14%
1 bedroom
Average rent
$895
Last 30 days
6%
Last year
2%
2 bedroom
Average rent
$1,095
Last 30 days
9%
Last year
No Change
3 bedroom
Average rent
$1,575
Last 30 days
1%
Last year
12%
4 bedroom
Average rent
$2,850
Last year
54%
Beaverdale
Average rent
$900
Downtown Des Moines
Average rent
$1,250
Drake
Average rent
$865
Lower Beaver
Average rent
$900
Meredith
Average rent
$900
Waveland Park
Average rent
$820
Apartments
Average rent
$895
Last 30 days
1%
Last year
1%
Condos
Average rent
$1,425
Last 30 days
26%
Last year
120%
Houses
Average rent
$1,550
Last 30 days
8%
Last year
15%
The table above reflects average rent prices in Merle Hay, Des Moines, IA, broken down by the number of bedrooms, neighborhoods, and property types. The availability of data for each category is dependent on market inventory and will adjust depending on your selected filters.
How does rent in Merle Hay, Des Moines, IA compare to other neighborhoods?
Compare median rent prices in Merle Hay and Beaverdale by all bedroom counts and property types.
Merle Hay
47%lower than the national median
53%lower than the national median
Takeaway
The median rent for all rentals in Merle Hay, Des Moines, IA is 12% higher than the median rent in Beaverdale, Des Moines, IA.
Average rent in nearby neighborhoods
Explore rent trends in neighboring markets
Discover rentals in Merle Hay, Des Moines, IA
5d+ ago
Verified
2 beds
1 bath
$708
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
Available Aug 1
9h ago
6316 Urbandale Ave, Des Moines, IA 50322
2 beds
1 bath
$815
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
1d ago
4925 Franklin Ave, Des Moines, IA 50310
2 beds
1 bath
$875
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
6315 Hickman Rd, Des Moines, IA 50322
2 beds
1 bath
$900
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Merle Hay house for rent in Des Moines
2 beds
1 bath
$1,595
Additional fees apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Based on information provided by the property, additional fees may apply, but no required monthly charges have been confirmed. See all fees for details.House for rent
Available Oct 13
3d ago
5626 Douglas Ave, Des Moines, IA 50310
Studio
1 bath
$725
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Verified
2 beds
1 bath
$708
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
Available Aug 1
9h ago
6316 Urbandale Ave, Des Moines, IA 50322
2 beds
1 bath
$815
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
1d ago
4925 Franklin Ave, Des Moines, IA 50310
2 beds
1 bath
$875
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Merle Hay house for rent in Des Moines
2 beds
1 bath
$1,350
Price dropped $100Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.House for rent
Available Oct 15
5d+ ago
6315 Hickman Rd, Des Moines, IA 50322
2 beds
1 bath
$900
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
6319 Hickman Rd, Des Moines, IA 50322
2 beds
1 bath
$900
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Merle Hay apartment for rent in Des Moines
2524 57th St #1, Des Moines, IA 50310
2 beds
2 baths
$1,275
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
Available Oct 12
2d ago
Merle Hay house for rent in Des Moines
3 beds
2 baths
$1,600
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.House for rent
Available Jan 12
5d+ ago
Verified
2 beds
1 bath
$708
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
Available Aug 1
9h ago
6316 Urbandale Ave, Des Moines, IA 50322
2 beds
1 bath
$815
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
1d ago
4925 Franklin Ave, Des Moines, IA 50310
2 beds
1 bath
$875
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
2d ago
Merle Hay house for rent in Des Moines
3 beds
2 baths
$1,600
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.House for rent
Available Jan 12
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Frequently asked questions for Merle Hay, Des Moines, IA
Quick answers to common questions about the Merle Hay rental market.
How much is rent in Merle Hay?
The average rent in Merle Hay is $1,005 per month as of October 24, 2026.
Is rent up or down in Merle Hay?
Average rent prices in Merle Hay have increased by 2% over the last month and have decreased by 9% since last year.
How does Merle Hay rent compare to the national average?
Rent in Merle Hay is 47% below the national average, which means renters are paying approximately $895 less per month.
What salary do I need to afford rent in Merle Hay?
To comfortably afford rent in Merle Hay, you'd need to earn approximately $40,000/year, based on spending no more than 30% of your income on rent.
Methodology
Rent prices are based on Zumper's rental listings from the past 30 days. Median rent is calculated across all available listings and property types on the platform. If you filter the page by bedroom count or property type, the pricing throughout the page will update automatically to reflect that segment of the rental market.
Household and population data come from the U.S. Census Bureau. Cost-of-living data is sourced from the Council for Community and Economic Research's Cost of Living Index (COLI).