Below Average CostHigh CrimeDes Moines Independent Comm School District
St. Anthony's Church - Des Moines, Iowa 01 · Farragutful / CC BY-SA 4.0St. Anthony's Church interior - Des Moines, Iowa 01 · Farragutful / CC BY-SA 4.0
Des Moines is a mid-sized city of 213,164 in Iowa, with a median household income of $62,378
and a 5.9% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Des Moines stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Des Moines is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Des Moines city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 92.7
Des Moines's overall cost of living index is 92.7,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Des Moines costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Des Moines, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$170,700
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$995
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
60.3%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$62,378
$74,755
Crime & Safety
High Crime
Des Moines's violent crime rate is 703.0 per 100,000 residents
— 85% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
703.0 /100k
Property Crime
3126.5 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Des Moines is served primarily by Des Moines Independent Comm School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.5:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Des Moines, IA
National Avg
School District
Des Moines Independent Comm School District
—
Elementary Schools
38
—
Middle Schools
10
—
High Schools
6
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.5:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
28.7%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
87.6%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Des Moines sees average highs of 30.9°F in January
and 85.6°F in July,
with 36.5 inches of annual precipitation
and 36.5 inches of snow per year.
Des Moines's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Des Moines roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $170,700 and median rent is $995/month.
Des Moines's violent crime rate is 703.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3126.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Des Moines are operated by Des Moines Independent Comm School District.
The district has 38 elementary, 10 middle, and 6 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.5:1. 28.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Des Moines, IA has a population of 213,164, a median household income of $62,378, and an unemployment rate of 5.9%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Des Moines averages 30.9°F in January and 85.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 36.5 inches
with about 36.5 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Des Moines, IA is covered by 12 ZIP codes: 50317, 50320, 50321, 50315, 50310, 50312, 50313, 50316, 50309, 50311, 50314, 50319.
The population of Des Moines, Iowa is 213,164 with a median age of 34.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Des Moines: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $170,700, median household income $62,378, crime index 171 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Des Moines side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
