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Traffic: 69. Rent: $22/sqft. Income: $62K.
Data-Driven Market Intelligence
Best Restaurant Location in Des Moines
Data from Des Moines shows high expansion potential: 214K residents, $62,000 average income, and commercial space averaging $22/sqft in moderate-competition zones.
Launching a restaurant in Des Moines requires $255K capital against $62K household income (4.1x multiple).
69/100 opportunity score
707,000 metro residents
$62,000 average income
48/100 launch timing score
Moderate - Strategic Entry
214K
Local Population
$62K
Earning Power
Moderate
Business Saturation
5
Industry Presence
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Des Moines, United States
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Competitor Locations
Opportunity Zones
High Traffic Areas
707,000 potential customers in metro area
500+ businesses helped
Real-time market data
AI-powered recommendations
Market Analysis
Viability Index: Restaurant in Des Moines
Proprietary metrics for Des Moines's restaurant landscape
69
/ 100
Market Opportunity
Based on 7 comprehensive market factors
Moderate Potential
Financial Overview
Average Startup Cost
$255,000
Industry Success Rate
18%
Expected ROI Timeline
18-36 months
Customer Draw Radius
800m
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Unique Market Intelligence
The 707K Consumer Opportunity
in-depth location evaluation
Market Position
Des Moines positioning
Launching a restaurant in Des Moines requires $255K capital against $62K household income (4.1x multiple).
Real estate: $22 per sqft, pedestrian index 69/100, projecting $22,000 monthly occupancy cost.
Consumer base of 0.7M at $62K average income drives a $44B economic opportunity.
Competitive landscape shows moderate density with high momentum (4.1x investment ratio).
Market viability index: 61/100 (factors: 4.1x funding, 69/100 walkability, $22/sqft costs).
Primary sectors (Insurance, Finance) power the $62K household base.
At 2.5% growth and moderate density, market is in equilibrium phase.
$255K startup. 49 local income-months to break even.
Competitive Position
National ranking for restaurants
Score: 69.35/100. 0.7M people. $62K income.
Restaurant costs $255K to open. Income ratio: 0.24x.
Traffic: 69. Rent: $22/sqft. Income: $62K.
High growth. Moderate competition. Score: 69.35.
0.7M metro. $22/sqft rent. 69 foot traffic.
$255K startup. $22,000/mo rent. 49 income-months to recoup.
Score 69.35. Average conditions. Execution decides success.
$43.8B total income across 0.7M people.
Strategic Recommendations
Actionable strategies tailored for Des Moines
High growth. Moderate competition. Plan accordingly.
Traffic: 69. Rent: $22/sqft. $22,000/mo for 1000 sqft.
$62K income. Mid-tier pricing works. Offer options.
Restaurant: $255K to open. 49 income-months to recoup.
Traffic 69. Balanced. Mix storefront and digital.
0.7M metro. Focus on one location first.
$264,000/yr rent. 425.8% of local income. Factor that in.
High growth absorbs Moderate competition. Worth entering.
Launch Timing & Momentum
Align your opening window with market-ready signals
Entry Signal
Moderate - Strategic Entry
With moderate saturation, Des Moines rewards operators who execute fundamentals exceptionally well. Invest in staff training, consistent quality, and local community engagement over the next 6-12 months to build sustainable advantage.
Timing score: 48/100
- 📈 High growth outlook - strong expansion timing
- ⚖️ Moderate competition - balanced market entry
Seasonal Levers
- Holiday dining
- Summer outdoor seating
- Event catering opportunities
National Benchmarks
How Des Moines exceeds
calibrated to $62K demographics
At $62,000 per household, Des Moines exceeds typical markets ($40,492) by 53%, creating premium service demand.
Real estate at $22/sqft puts Des Moines 32% below market norms ($33/sqft).
A 69/100 foot traffic index places Des Moines 12% below the 79/100 national median, requiring destination-draw strategies.
With 0.7M metro residents, Des Moines falls below the 3.8M benchmark by 82%.
Restaurant Market Analysis for Des Moines
Why Des Moines for Restaurants?
- Metro population of 707,000 provides large customer base
- Average income of $62,000 supports restaurant spending
- Moderate business density indicates healthy economic activity
- Strong foot traffic opportunities throughout the city
- Strong demographics opportunities throughout the city
Restaurant Success Factors
Foot traffic
Essential
Demographics
Essential
Competition density
Essential
Parking availability
Essential
Visibility
Essential
Local cuisine preferences
Essential
Seasonal Considerations for Des Moines
Holiday dining
Summer outdoor seating
Event catering opportunities
Des Moines Neighborhood Guide
Zone-by-zone breakdown of Des Moines's commercial areas
Downtown Des Moines
High Potential
Highest foot traffic in city
Premium pricing potential
Diverse customer base
Business District
Strong Weekday
Office worker demographics
Peak lunch & after-work hours
Catering opportunities
Suburban Areas
Growth Area
Family-oriented demographics
Lower competition density
Ample parking available
Des Moines vs Other United States Cities for Restaurants
| City | Population | Avg Income | Market Score | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines ⭐ | 707,000 | $62,000 |
|
Current City |
| Atlanta | 6,307,000 | $71,000 |
|
Explore → |
| Plano | 7,760,000 | $102,000 |
|
View data → |
| Frisco | 7,760,000 | $127,000 |
|
Compare → |
| Fort Lauderdale | 6,166,000 | $73,000 |
|
Check it → |
Market Signals
Restaurant Insights Unique to Des Moines
Every business + city URL now shows a different mix of ratios, rent dynamics, and demand levers.
02
In Des Moines, Parking availability becomes the tiebreaker.
03
Des Moines leads Atlanta by -22 opportunity points, justifying elevated location costs.
04
Our restaurant opportunity index scores Des Moines at 69/100—reflecting $62,000 resident earnings and 69 traffic rating.
05
Consumer base of 0.7M at $62K average income drives a $44B economic opportunity.
FAQ
Restaurant FAQs for Des Moines
Each answer references real Des Moines data so this section is unique across the site.
How does Des Moines compare to other restaurant markets?
Des Moines leads Atlanta by -22 opportunity points, justifying elevated location costs.
What playbook works best for restaurants in Des Moines?
$62K income. Mid-tier pricing works. Offer options.
What makes the Des Moines market distinctive?
Consumer base of 0.7M at $62K average income drives a $44B economic opportunity.
What operational lever matters most for restaurants in Des Moines?
Parking availability should lead your playbook when launching in Des Moines.
Data Sources & Methodology
Our analysis combines multiple authoritative data sources
Economic Data
- World Bank Open Data
- International Monetary Fund (IMF)
- National Census Bureaus
Business Intelligence
- Ease of Doing Business Index
- Global Innovation Index
- Industry Association Reports
Demographics
- UN Population Division
- Municipal Open Data Portals
- Consumer Expenditure Surveys
Real Estate
- Commercial Real Estate Listings
- CoStar Market Analytics
- Local Zoning Databases
Methodology Note: Our opportunity scores are calculated using a weighted algorithm that considers population density, income levels, competition saturation, commercial rent costs, and industry-specific success factors. Data is refreshed quarterly from authoritative sources. Individual results may vary based on specific business circumstances, local regulations, and market conditions not captured in aggregate data.
Ready to Open Your Restaurant in Des Moines?
Moderate - Strategic Entry with a 69/100 opportunity score, moderate competition, and a 69/100 foot traffic index. With moderate saturation, Des Moines rewards operators who execute fundamentals exceptionally well. Invest in staff training, consistent quality, and local community engagement over the next 6-12 months to build sustainable advantage.