Live Where theSound Meetsthe Neighborhood
Waterfront mornings, marina walks, and a community that knows your name.
Written by Roger Bintner, Windermere Real Estate · WA License #50539
Updated June 2026
Your local guide
I’m Roger.
I work with empty nesters, downsizers, and families navigating estate sales who are ready for what’s next but feel buried by the house, the stuff, and the repairs. My team takes all of it on. You hand me the keys, we get the home sold, and you wake up already in what comes next — wondering why you didn’t do it sooner. More about Roger →
About Des Moines, WA
Des Moines, WA is a waterfront city of about 33,000 on the eastern shore of Puget Sound, in King County, 20 minutes south of downtown Seattle and 5 miles from Sea-Tac International Airport. It incorporated in 1959 and has spent the seventy years since building its identity around the water — six miles of shoreline, a 900-slip marina, a state park, and a community that genuinely uses all of it. The unofficial nickname, Waterland, isn't marketing copy. People here actually use it.
The people trend professional, well-traveled, and rooted. Median household income is around $111,000, owner-occupancy sits just over 60%, and roughly a quarter of residents were born outside the U.S. The frequent-flyer advantage — Sea-Tac is eight to sixteen minutes by car off-peak — pulls in airline employees, consultants who fly weekly, and Boeing engineers. K–12 students are served by Highline Public Schools; most kids track through Mount Rainier High, Pacific Middle, and one of three elementaries depending on neighborhood.
What it feels like depends on where you stand. The Marina District is the social heart — you walk past the Saturday farmers market in July, see ten people you know, and end up at Wally's for chowder. Zenith is quieter, view-driven, mostly 1980s ranch homes with sweeping looks at Maury Island and the Olympics. Redondo has its own thing entirely: the boardwalk, the MaST aquarium, the sea lions, and yes, the recently-designated Sixgill Shark Capital of the World. Woodmont is the calmer family side west of Pacific Highway 99, where the math on a yard still works.
Two honest notes. Sea-Tac flight paths cross over parts of the city — the further north you live, the more aircraft noise, especially when Sea-Tac's third runway is in use (the westernmost runway, closer to the residential side). Most flights are high enough to fade into background, but if you're noise-sensitive, ask about the specific block before you write an offer. Same with Pacific Highway 99: the closer you live to the corridor, the more it shows up.
- Population
- ~33,000
- Walk Score
- 41
- Sea-Tac Distance
- 5 mi
Stay current
Local resources for Des Moines, WA.
The city already does the work of telling you what’s happening week-to-week. Here’s where to find it.
City of Des Moines · Weekly · every Friday
City Manager Report
The City's official weekly newsletter — Council recaps, civic calendar, parks updates, jobs, the strategic plan series, and the small history pieces that make this place feel like home. Free to subscribe; comes straight to your inbox.
Schools in Des Moines, WA
Des Moines is split between two school districts. Most students — roughly 75% of the city — are in Highline Public Schools, an 18,000-student district that also serves Burien, SeaTac, White Center, and Normandy Park. The remaining ~25%, primarily south-end addresses including Redondo, fall into Federal Way Public Schools instead. School assignment depends on the exact address — verify with both districts before you write an offer. For Highline families, the typical track is Mount Rainier High, Pacific Middle, and one of three elementaries (Des Moines, North Hill, or Woodmont). Raisbeck Aviation High is the district-wide option school worth knowing — an aerospace-focused magnet ranked 4th in Washington, admitted by application.
Mount Rainier High School
Grades 9–12
The comprehensive public high school for most of Highline-district Des Moines. Offers both Advanced Placement (AP) and the full International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme — IB since 1987, making it one of the longest-running IB programs in Washington — with the IB Middle Years Programme added in 2017. Full-size athletics.
Raisbeck Aviation High School
9/10Grades 9–12
STEM/aerospace magnet ranked 4th in Washington. Application-only, district-wide. A legitimate standout.
Pacific Middle School
Grades 6–8
Main feeder middle school for Mount Rainier. Serves much of the city's central and southern neighborhoods.
North Hill Elementary
7/10Grades K–5
Top 30% of the state, four-star rating. The strong neighborhood pick on the north end.
Des Moines Elementary
Grades PK–5
K–5 in the central neighborhood. About 500 students, walkable for most of the Marina District and Zenith.
Federal Way Public Schools (south-end addresses)
Grades K–12
Roughly 25% of Des Moines — primarily the south end and Redondo — falls in Federal Way Public Schools rather than Highline. Federal Way's high schools include Federal Way HS, Decatur, Thomas Jefferson, and Todd Beamer; assigned school depends on address. Always verify the boundary directly with the district before you buy.
What schools serve Des Moines, WA? Des Moines is split between two school districts. About 75% of students are in Highline Public Schools — Mount Rainier High School (which offers both AP and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme since 1987), Pacific Middle School, and one of three elementaries — Des Moines, North Hill, or Woodmont. The remaining ~25%, primarily the south end including Redondo, attend Federal Way Public Schools instead. Raisbeck Aviation High School, an aerospace-focused magnet ranked 4th in Washington, is open to all Highline-district Des Moines students by application.
Healthcare in Des Moines, WA
Des Moines doesn't have a major hospital within city limits, but it sits between two of the south Puget Sound's main hospitals: St. Anne Hospital in Burien (~8 minutes north) and St. Francis Hospital in Federal Way (~15 minutes south). Both have 24/7 emergency departments and full-service care.
Hospitals & Emergency
St. Anne Hospital
Hospital · ER 24/7Burien · ~8 min north
The closest hospital to Des Moines. Full ER, surgery, medical and rehab care. Part of Virginia Mason Franciscan Health (formerly Highline Medical Center).
St. Francis Hospital
Hospital · ER 24/7Federal Way · ~15 min south
Larger regional hospital with cardiac, maternity, and ICU services. Also Virginia Mason Franciscan Health.
Urgent Care
MultiCare Indigo Urgent Care
Walk-in · 7 daysBurien / Federal Way
Regional walk-in chain with locations on both sides of Des Moines. Online check-in, evening and weekend hours.
St. Anne Urgent Care
Walk-inBurien · St. Anne campus
On the hospital campus. Same-day visits for non-emergency conditions.
Kaiser Permanente Burien Medical Center
Members onlyBurien
For Kaiser members. Combines primary care, urgent care, and on-site pharmacy.
Primary Care & Medical Groups
Virginia Mason Franciscan Health
Multi-specialty groupBurien + Federal Way
VMFH runs both St. Anne and St. Francis. Primary care, internal medicine, OB-GYN, and a wide range of specialties at offices in both directions.
Kaiser Permanente
Integrated systemBurien + Federal Way
Full Kaiser facilities in both Burien and Federal Way. Primary care, urgent care, lab, and pharmacy under one roof for members.
MultiCare Connected Care
Multi-specialty groupMultiple south-end locations
MultiCare's network of primary care and specialty offices throughout the south Puget Sound corridor.
Pharmacies
Des Moines Pharmacy
Independent pharmacy · since 1947Marine Hills · 627 S 227th St
The locally-owned pharmacy that's been here since 1947 — second-generation, family-run, the kind of place that knows you by name. Prescriptions, curbside pickup, delivery, medication disposal, plus Hallmark cards, gifts, and health & beauty. The local-first option.
Walgreens
Pharmacy chainPacific Hwy S
Multiple Des Moines and Kent locations along Pacific Highway S. Drive-thru, vaccinations, photo.
QFC Pharmacy
Supermarket pharmacyDes Moines / Burien
Inside QFC. Convenient for prescriptions while grocery shopping; loyalty rewards stack with QFC fuel.
Fred Meyer Pharmacy
Supermarket pharmacyBurien / Federal Way
Inside Fred Meyer. Full-service with vaccinations and a small clinic at some locations.
Hospital pharmacies
SpecialtySt. Anne / St. Francis
On-site pharmacies at both hospitals — useful for prescriptions filled at discharge or immediately after a doctor visit.
Where do Des Moines, WA residents get healthcare? Des Moines is served by two nearby hospitals: St. Anne Hospital in Burien (8 minutes north) and St. Francis Hospital in Federal Way (15 minutes south), both with 24/7 emergency rooms. Primary care is handled mostly through Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, Kaiser Permanente, and MultiCare. Urgent care options include MultiCare Indigo and St. Anne's. Major pharmacy chains and supermarket pharmacies are widely available.
Healthcare networks, locations, and hours can change. Always confirm with the provider before you need them — especially in an emergency, call 911 first rather than driving to any specific facility.
Where to Eat in Des Moines, WA
Des Moines is a small city that punches well above its weight on food, especially within walking distance of the marina. The chowder is the obvious answer (Wally's, Anthony's), but the deeper menu runs through wood-fired Neapolitan pizza, scratch-bread breakfast, and the kind of long-running family-owned spots that don't need to chase trends to stay full.
Wally's Chowder House
PNW seafoodMarina District
Award-winning New England-style chowder, fish and chips, Sound views. The one everyone recommends to visitors.
Anthony's HomePort Des Moines
PNW seafoodMarina District
Sweeping Sound views from the marina. Sunset is the move; the seafood is consistent.
via Marina
Italian / pizzaMarina District
Authentic Neapolitan wood-fired pizzas. The pizza spot in town.
Auntie Irene's
Cafe & coffeeMarine View Dr
Family-owned. Soups, sandwiches, pastries, ice cream, drive-thru, deck seating with Sound views. Open 5:30 AM weekdays.
Second Love Coffee Roasters
Coffee roaster & cafeMarina District · 22331 Marine View Dr S
Local roaster and cafe on Marine View Drive, a short walk from the marina. House-roasted beans, espresso, light breakfast and lunch, plus a full cafe menu through 3 PM. Open seven days. A newer morning gathering spot for the marina crowd.
Bennetts Fish Shack at Redondo
PNW seafood · opening TBARedondo Beach · former Salty's location
Replacing the long-shuttered Salty's at the south end of the Redondo waterfront. The Bennetts group takes over the iconic over-the-water building; opening date to be announced. Fills the most-missed gap in the south-end restaurant scene.
Alina's Cafe
All-day AmericanCentral
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner — everything from scratch including the bread and the daily pastries. The neighborhood scratch kitchen.
Mandarin Kitchen
ChineseCentral
Family-owned Hunan, Szechuan, and Cantonese. Long-running for a reason.
PortoVino Ristorante Italiano
ItalianCentral
A quieter date-night pick — proper Italian in a town more known for chowder.
DAO Thai Street Food
ThaiCentral
Casual Thai with the street-food angle — fast, generous, the kind of place you go back to.
Where do locals eat in Des Moines, WA? The Marina District concentrates the most-recommended spots — Wally's Chowder House and Anthony's HomePort for waterfront seafood, via Marina for Neapolitan pizza, Auntie Irene's for the early-morning drive-thru, and Second Love Coffee Roasters for the local roast. Bennetts Fish Shack is set to replace the long-shuttered Salty's at Redondo (opening TBA).
Shopping & Local Markets
Honest take: Des Moines is not a destination retail city. For a Target run or a department store, locals drive to Burien or Federal Way. What it does have is the marina-centric core — a Saturday farmers market in season, a long-running butcher and seafood market on Marine View Drive, and a community-focused coffee bar — the kind of small-inventory neighborhood life that's hard to fake.
Des Moines Marina
Marina & waterfront · Marina District
900 slips, full-service. The literal anchor of the city — fuel dock, fishing pier, walking path, restaurants on the water.
Des Moines Waterfront Farmers Market
Farmers market (seasonal) · Marina District
Saturdays, June through September, 22307 Dock Ave S. Now in its 21st year. Produce, flowers, crafts, live music.
B & E Meats & Seafood
Butcher shop & seafood market · Marine View Dr S · 22501
Long-running family butcher and seafood market on Marine View Drive — 4.8 stars across 430+ Google reviews. Wide selection of meat and fish, plus their own marinated and smoked specialty products. The local-first answer when you don't want to buy your steak at a chain grocer.
Quarterdeck Coffee
Coffee & community space · Marina District
Local art on the walls, hosts events, the morning gathering point for the marina crowd.
Things to Do in Des Moines, WA
Des Moines is a small city defined by what's outside the front door. Six miles of saltwater shoreline, Washington's only full-log cabin, the state's only underwater artificial reef, and a community calendar that orbits the waterfront from Memorial Day through holiday tree-lighting. Here's what's actually worth your time.
Parks, Trails & Landmarks
Saltwater State Park
State park · 137 acresSouth Des Moines
Washington's most-visited state park on Puget Sound. 350,000 visitors a year, two miles of shoreline, sandy beach with tide pools, and the only underwater artificial reef in the state — a designated dive destination.
Des Moines Beach Park
Park · 20 acresMarina District
635 feet of saltwater beach, a salmon-bearing stream, meadows, woodland trails, Olympic views. Houses the historic Covenant Beach event center.
Des Moines Marina Pier
Public pier · open 24 hrsMarina District · 410 S 222nd St
The long T-shaped public pier extending into Puget Sound from the marina. Free, open around the clock — crabbing, squidding, fishing, sunset-watching. 4.7 stars across 270+ Google reviews; locals walk it as part of the morning loop.
Redondo Beach Boardwalk
Boardwalk · 1.1 miRedondo
Sea lions, sunsets, and the recently designated Sixgill Shark Capital of the World. Divers come from everywhere; the rest of us come for the walk.
Des Moines Creek Trail
Multi-use trail · ~4 miCreek Corridor
The local default for walks, runs, and easy bike rides. Connects the city east-to-west through wooded creek bottoms.
Des Moines Field House Park
Historic parkNorth Hill
Washington's only full-log cabin — WPA-built in 1939–40, King County Historic Landmark since 1984. Pickleball, tennis, skate park, ball fields. Locals walk past every day.
MaST Center Aquarium
Marine aquarium · free SaturdaysRedondo
Highline College's marine biology research aquarium. 250+ native Puget Sound species across 11 tanks, plus touch tanks. Free to the public on Saturdays — wildly underrated for a small coast town.
Annual Events
Waterland Festival & Parade
Annual festival · JulyCitywide
The city's signature summer event. Parade, music, food, family activities along the waterfront. The marina is the gravitational center for the whole weekend.
Waterland Wheels Car Show
Annual event · summerMarina District
Classic-car show with the marina as the backdrop. Hot rods, customs, and the cars locals roll out once a year.
Smoke on the Water BBQ
Annual event · summerMarina District
Waterfront community BBQ. Great name. Better view.
4th of July
Annual event · JulyMarina District
Fireworks over Puget Sound from the marina. Bring a chair early — the good spots fill up by noon.
Tree Lighting Ceremony
Annual event · DecemberMarina District
Holiday season kickoff at the marina. Lights, hot chocolate, the same group of regulars every year.
What is there to do in Des Moines, WA? The city's outdoor scene is built around the water — Saltwater State Park, Des Moines Beach Park, the Redondo Beach Boardwalk, and the Des Moines Creek Trail anchor the year-round options. Saltwater State Park is the regional shore-dive destination thanks to Washington's only underwater artificial reef. MaST Center Aquarium in Redondo is open free to the public on Saturdays. The summer event calendar centers on the Waterland Festival, the Wheels Car Show, and Smoke on the Water BBQ.
Getting Around Des Moines, WA
By Car
I-5 sits two miles east of the waterfront, with quick access via Kent–Des Moines Road. Pacific Highway S (SR-99) runs the full length of the city, and SR-509 connects north to Burien and Sea-Tac. Marine View Drive S is the slow scenic spine along the water — locals use it on purpose.
By Transit
King County Metro Route 156 runs Des Moines to Sea-Tac in about 25 minutes for $3. The Sounder commuter train from Kent reaches Seattle's King Street Station in 35 minutes — better than fighting I-5. The Sound Transit Link extension to Federal Way is scheduled to open in 2026, putting light rail one short bus connection away.
By Air & Sea
Sea-Tac International is 5 miles north — eight to sixteen minutes by car off-peak. There's no direct ferry from Des Moines, but the Fauntleroy and Point Defiance terminals are short drives, putting Vashon Island, Southworth, and the Kitsap Peninsula in easy weekend reach.
Commute times
| Destination | By car (off-peak) | By transit |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Seattle | 20 min | 50 min |
| Sea-Tac Airport | 12 min | 25 min |
| Bellevue | 30 min | 70 min |
| Tacoma | 25 min | 60 min |
| Kent | 15 min | 25 min |
| Federal Way | 12 min | 30 min |
What's the commute from Des Moines, WA to downtown Seattle? About 20 minutes by car off-peak via I-5 or SR-509, or 35 minutes from Kent on the Sounder train. Sea-Tac is 8–16 minutes north depending on traffic — the airport proximity is one of the city's defining lifestyle perks.
The Map
Neighborhoods
Marina District
The waterfront village core — marina, beach park, farmers market, and the highest density of restaurants and walkability.
Zenith
Quiet 1980s ranch streets in the central south, view-driven, walkable to Saltwater State Park.
Redondo
Boardwalk, pier, and the MaST Aquarium on the south end — eclectic, sea-lion adjacent, slightly its own thing.
Woodmont
The calmer family side west of Pacific Highway 99 — schools, neighborhood parks, more yard for the dollar.
Market Data for Des Moines, WA
Live data on active listings, asking prices, inventory, and weekly change indicators for Des Moines, WA — pulled in real time from Altos Research and updated every Monday.
This month’s read · Des Moines, WA · June 2026
Marina pull keeps inventory tight; prepped homes lead.
- Median sale price
- Low-to-mid $800's↑
- Active listings
- Climbing (still in seller territory)↑
- Days on market
- ~40–55 for well-prepped homes↑
Prices notched yet another high while inventory continues its slow climb — more supply, same buyer appetite. The Marina District and Zenith still clear fastest; Woodmont and the Pacific Hwy S corridor are drifting past 50 days if the home needs work. Larger, newer homes are pulling the median up while per-square-foot stays flat, meaning buyers aren't paying more for space, just for finished product.
If you’re thinking about selling
The window's still open but widening slowly. Pre-inspection, neutral paint, and staging that highlights views or walk-score advantages will keep you sub-30 days; list as-is and you're negotiating at 60+ days with fewer backup offers.
Source: Altos Research weekly market data. The interactive dashboard below shows the underlying numbers; this summary captures the read Roger sends to The Market Reporter subscribers.
Want my read on what these numbers actually mean for Des Moines, WA — delivered to your inbox every two weeks?
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WA Real Estate License #50539
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