Des Moines vs West Des Moines
Des Moines, Iowa versus West Des Moines, 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 West Des Moines score about the same overall (42 vs 45 of 100) — the differences are in the individual factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Des Moines | West Des Moines |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $62k | $82k |
| Cost of Living | $47k | $47k |
| Home Value | $171k | $267k |
| Monthly Rent | $995 | $1k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $1k | $2k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.96% | 1.64% |
| Income Tax | 6.00% | 6.00% |
| Sales Tax | 6.94% | 6.94% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 13.64% | 13.59% |
| Unemployment | 5.9% | 2.8% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 22°F | 22°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 75°F | 75°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.6 in | 37.3 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.5 in | 36.5 in |
| Sunny Days | 194 days | 194 days |
| Summer Humidity | 65°F | 65°F |
| Comfortable Days | 87 days | 88 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 16.8 | 43.1 |
| Air Quality | 52 AQI | 51 AQI |
| School Quality | 57.6 | 65.8 |
| Violent Crime | 1581/100k | 818/100k |
| Property Crime | 2184/100k | 1724/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 213,164 | 68,744 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 36.2 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.49 | 0.33 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.98 | 1.00 |
| Political Leaning | D+16 | D+16 |
| White (%) | 63.4% | 79.1% |
| Black (%) | 11.4% | 4.4% |
| Hispanic (%) | 14.3% | 5.7% |
| Asian (%) | 6.5% | 6.1% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 4.3% | 4.8% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 20 min | 18 min |
| Walkability | 12.3/20 | 11.4/20 |
| Airport Distance | 120 mi | 110 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 86.4% | 92.2% |
| Amenities Nearby | 17.45 | 36.80 |
| Park & Nature Access | Good | Moderate |
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 West Des Moines more affordable?
- West Des Moines has the lower cost of living: its index is $47k, compared with Des Moines's $47k and West Des Moines's $47k. Median rent is $995 in Des Moines versus $1k in West Des Moines.
- Is Des Moines or West Des Moines safer?
- West Des Moines has the lower violent crime rate. Des Moines reports 1581/100k and West Des Moines reports 818/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Des Moines or West Des Moines?
- The median home value is $171k in Des Moines and $267k in West Des Moines, so homes are more affordable in Des Moines.