Des Moines vs Sioux City
Des Moines, Iowa versus Sioux City, Iowa: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Sioux City edges out Des Moines on overall objective livability (46 vs 42 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Des Moines | Sioux City |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $62k | $64k |
| Cost of Living | $47k | $45k |
| Home Value | $171k | $150k |
| Monthly Rent | $995 | $904 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $1k | $1k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.96% | 1.66% |
| Income Tax | 6.00% | 6.00% |
| Sales Tax | 6.94% | 6.94% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 13.64% | 12.15% |
| Unemployment | 5.9% | 4.7% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 22°F | 20°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 75°F | 74°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.6 in | 32.3 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.5 in | 36.0 in |
| Sunny Days | 194 days | 254 days |
| Summer Humidity | 65°F | 64°F |
| Comfortable Days | 87 days | 81 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 16.8 | 60.1 |
| Air Quality | 52 AQI | 52 AQI |
| School Quality | 57.6 | 44.2 |
| Violent Crime | 1581/100k | 1225/100k |
| Property Crime | 2184/100k | 1960/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 213,164 | 85,469 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 34.8 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.49 | 0.45 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.98 | 1.00 |
| Political Leaning | D+16 | R+18 |
| White (%) | 63.4% | 64.0% |
| Black (%) | 11.4% | 5.1% |
| Hispanic (%) | 14.3% | 21.4% |
| Asian (%) | 6.5% | 2.6% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 4.3% | 6.9% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 20 min | 17 min |
| Walkability | 12.3/20 | 14.9/20 |
| Airport Distance | 120 mi | 85 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 86.4% | 83.2% |
| Amenities Nearby | 17.45 | 22.58 |
| 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 Sioux City more affordable?
- Sioux City has the lower cost of living: its index is $45k, compared with Des Moines's $47k and Sioux City's $45k. Median rent is $995 in Des Moines versus $904 in Sioux City.
- Is Des Moines or Sioux City safer?
- Sioux City has the lower violent crime rate. Des Moines reports 1581/100k and Sioux City reports 1225/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Des Moines or Sioux City?
- The median home value is $171k in Des Moines and $150k in Sioux City, so homes are more affordable in Sioux City.