Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
Des Moines, IA
🏆 Arlington leads 14 of 23 categories
Arlington
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,736 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
393,469 ✓ Larger
Des Moines
Iowa
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,378
Violent Crime Index
185⚠ High
Population
213,164
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, TX
Pros
31% less violent crime than Des Moines
Households earn $9,358 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 31°F
More college-educated — 32.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Des Moines
Des Moines, IA
Pros
Homes cost $81k less ($170,700 vs $251,300)
Rent averages $302/mo less ($995 vs $1,297)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 96°F
Cons
Violent crime (703.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Arlington by $9,358/yr
Property crime (3126.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Income
$9,358
$71,736 vs $62,378/yr
Arlington
Violent Crime
31% lower
482.9 vs 703.0 per 100k
Arlington
Summer Heat
10.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 85.6°F
Des Moines
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Des Moines
Median Home Value
$81k less
$170,700 vs $251,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | Des Moines, IA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 | $170,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 ✓ Higher | $62,378 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 10.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 185⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 149⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% ✓ Higher | 28.7% |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% | 87.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | Des Moines Independent Comm School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer | 30.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 85.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 36.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 36.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 ✓ Larger | 213,164 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 34.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% | 60.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 12.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Des Moines's 92.7 (US average = 100).
Des Moines is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 14 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 14 and Des Moines wins 9. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Arlington to Des Moines or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $170,700 median home), income ($71,736 vs $62,378), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and Des Moines, IA are about 643 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.