Des Moines vs Iowa City
Des Moines, Iowa versus Iowa City, Iowa: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Des Moines and Iowa City score about the same overall (42 vs 43 of 100) — the differences are in the individual factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Des Moines | Iowa City |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $62k | $55k |
| Cost of Living | $47k | $45k |
| Home Value | $171k | $257k |
| Monthly Rent | $995 | $1k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $1k | $2k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.96% | 1.76% |
| Income Tax | 6.00% | 6.00% |
| Sales Tax | 6.94% | 6.94% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 13.64% | 16.53% |
| Unemployment | 5.9% | 4.8% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 22°F | 23°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 75°F | 76°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.6 in | 35.7 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.5 in | 27.5 in |
| Sunny Days | 194 days | 245 days |
| Summer Humidity | 65°F | 65°F |
| Comfortable Days | 87 days | 79 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 16.8 | 76.9 |
| Air Quality | 52 AQI | 56 AQI |
| School Quality | 57.6 | 57.7 |
| Violent Crime | 1581/100k | 1172/100k |
| Property Crime | 2184/100k | 1555/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 213,164 | 74,878 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 26.0 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.49 | 0.41 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.98 | 0.98 |
| Political Leaning | D+16 | D+44 |
| White (%) | 63.4% | 73.2% |
| Black (%) | 11.4% | 8.4% |
| Hispanic (%) | 14.3% | 6.7% |
| Asian (%) | 6.5% | 7.8% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 4.3% | 3.9% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 20 min | 18 min |
| Walkability | 12.3/20 | 12.2/20 |
| Airport Distance | 120 mi | 189 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 86.4% | 87.6% |
| Amenities Nearby | 17.45 | 33.79 |
| Park & Nature Access | Good | Excellent |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Des Moines or Iowa City more affordable?
- Iowa City has the lower cost of living: its index is $45k, compared with Des Moines's $47k and Iowa City's $45k. Median rent is $995 in Des Moines versus $1k in Iowa City.
- Is Des Moines or Iowa City safer?
- Iowa City has the lower violent crime rate. Des Moines reports 1581/100k and Iowa City reports 1172/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Des Moines or Iowa City?
- The median home value is $171k in Des Moines and $257k in Iowa City, so homes are more affordable in Des Moines.