Market intelligence · Des Moines, IA

Des Moines childcare real estate: values, cap rates & market data.

Q: Can I sell my center without my staff or competitors finding out?

Yes. Little Scholars runs confidential sale processes — buyers are qualified and sign NDAs before any identifying information about your center is shared.

What childcare centers and daycare properties are worth in the Des Moines market — grounded in our own sold-comps database, our 2025 tuition survey, and U.S. Census data.

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46,622

Children under 5 in the Des Moines metro (2023)

+13.6%

Population change, 2018–2023

$84,209

Median household income — above the U.S. national median

+3.1%

Change in under-5 population, 2018–2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2018 & 2023), Des Moines–West Des Moines, IA Metro Area.

What this means for owners

The Midwest's fastest-growing family market.

Des Moines grew 13.6% from 2018 to 2023 — and its under-5 count grew 3.1% with it, a combination almost no metro can match. Household income reached $84,209.

Our surveyed schools sit in the northern growth suburbs, Johnston and Ankeny. Iowa comps trade tight for the Midwest — a 6.5% median cap at $394 per square foot on 12 sales.

2025 tuition rates · Des Moines market

Real rates from Des Moines-market schools.

Actual monthly tuition rates our team received from national-chain schools in this market during our 2025 survey — not averages. Tuition drives revenue, and revenue drives value.

Brand	Location	Infant / mo	Pre-K / mo	Licensed capacity
KinderCare	Johnston (Thomas Ave)	$1,580	$1,277	205
La Petite Academy	Ankeny (E 1st St)	$1,819	$1,516	126

Disclosure: these rates and enrollment figures were manually received by our team, directly from each school, during our 2025 survey. Only schools that shared rates are shown; figures may have changed since. Medians are computed across the schools shown; median occupancy uses only schools that reported exact enrollment. Licensed capacity per state licensing records. Source: Little Scholars 2025 brand rate survey.

Cap rates & valuation context

What childcare properties trade at in Iowa.

Across our sold-comps database, Iowa childcare properties have typically traded at 5.5–7.2% cap rates, at a median of $394 per square foot, across 12 sales. Where your property lands comes down to tenant credit, lease term, and the site itself.

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Source: Little Scholars sold-comps dataset — medians from 12 Iowa childcare sales (8 with reported cap rate), within 592 transactions across 41 states; compiled from public records, updated June 2026.

5.5–7.2%

Typical cap-rate range, IA sales

6.5%

Median sold cap rate, IA

$394

Median price per SF, IA

IA childcare sales in our dataset

Brand (national)	Median sold cap	Median $/SF
KinderCare	6.67%	$381
La Petite Academy	6.89%	$207
Kiddie Academy	6.46%	$378
Tutor Time	8.47%	$372
Childtime	6.20%	$262

Market activity

6 childcare properties currently listed for sale in Iowa.

Source: on-market childcare listings on Crexi as of July 20, 2026, reviewed by our team for childcare relevance. Availability changes daily; contact us for current opportunities.

What's your Des Moines center worth?

An instant, confidential valuation of your business and your property — built on the same data behind this page.

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Why Little Scholars

The childcare broker who's run one.

30⁺

Years in the industry

70⁺

Centers sold

18⁺

States nationwide

2,800⁺

Investors in our network

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FAQ

Questions from Des Moines owners.

How much does daycare tuition cost in Des Moines?

In our 2025 survey of national-chain schools in the Des Moines market, actual rates ran roughly $1,580–$1,819/mo for infants and $1,277–$1,516/mo for Pre-K, with medians of $1,700 and $1,397. Rates were received directly from each school and vary by program and location.

What cap rates do childcare properties sell at in Iowa?

In our sold-comps dataset of 12 Iowa childcare sales, properties have sold at a median cap rate of roughly 6.5%, typically ranging 5.5–7.2%, at a median of $394 per square foot. Individual deals vary with tenant credit, lease term, and location.

How much is my Des Moines daycare business worth?

Childcare businesses are usually valued on a multiple of SDE or EBITDA, and the real estate on its income and comparable sales. Our instant valuation tool estimates both — free and confidential.

Who buys childcare centers in central Iowa?

Regional and national operators, franchisees, and net-lease real-estate investors. We maintain a network of 2,800+ childcare and net-lease investors who actively acquire early-education assets across 18+ states.

Can I sell my center without my staff or competitors finding out?

Yes. We run confidential sale processes — buyers are qualified and sign NDAs before any identifying information about your center is shared. Here's how our process works.

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