Des Moines is a mostly residential city whose housing stock reflects its mid-century suburban growth and its waterfront setting. Single-family homes are common across the city's hillside neighborhoods, many of which offer views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains, while multi-family buildings and apartments cluster near transit corridors and the Highline College area. The city is largely built out, so the character is established rather than rapidly expanding. Waterfront and view properties are among the most distinctive homes, and the overall pattern places residents close to the marina, parks, and the light rail line that now serves the community.

Des Moines is organized around its shoreline and its transit corridor. The Marina District, centered on the Des Moines Marina and waterfront parks, anchors the city's recreational and civic identity, with dining and shops nearby. The Highline College area, near the Kent Des Moines light rail station, has emerged as a transit-oriented focal point. Beyond these anchors, the city's neighborhoods climb the hillsides above Puget Sound, with single-family streets and view lots overlooking the water. Because the city sits between Seattle and Tacoma, residents enjoy the character of a distinct local community while remaining connected to both larger cities.

Des Moines offers a waterfront lifestyle within the Seattle metropolitan area. The Des Moines Marina is the community's social and recreational heart, supporting boating, fishing, and a waterfront promenade, and the city's shoreline parks bring residents to the edge of Puget Sound with views across the water. The largely residential character keeps daily life calm, while proximity to Sea-Tac Airport, Interstate 5, and the regional light rail system makes commuting practical. Highline College adds an educational anchor and community resource. For residents, Des Moines blends the appeal of a quiet, water-oriented suburb with unusually direct access to the jobs and amenities of the greater Seattle-Tacoma region.

Des Moines is served by Highline Public Schools for K-12 education, a district covering several South King County communities. Highline College, a community college located within Des Moines, provides two-year degrees, professional and technical programs, and transfer pathways, and it serves as an educational and cultural anchor for the area. The presence of both a K-12 district and a college within the city gives residents access to education across the spectrum without leaving town. Families also benefit from the district's array of schools and programs serving the diverse communities of the Highline area.

Des Moines is well positioned within the regional transportation network. Sound Transit's 1 Line light rail serves the city at the Kent Des Moines station near Highline College, connecting riders to Seattle, Sea-Tac Airport, and the broader rail system, while RapidRide bus service adds frequent transit along key corridors. A passenger ferry links the Des Moines Marina to downtown Seattle. Interstate 5 runs just east of the city, and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is minutes away. These options make Des Moines a practical base for commuters throughout the Seattle-Tacoma region, whether traveling by car, rail, bus, or boat.

The Des Moines Marina is the heart of recreation in the city, supporting boating, fishing, crabbing, and strolling along the waterfront. Des Moines Beach Park and other shoreline parks provide beach access, picnicking, and views across Puget Sound. The city's hillside parks and trails add green space for walking and play. A passenger ferry service links the marina to downtown Seattle, offering both a commute option and a scenic outing. With the sound, nearby regional parks, and easy access to the broader Seattle-Tacoma recreational landscape, Des Moines residents are never far from the water or the outdoors.