Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Austin, TX
VS
Des Moines, IA
🏆 Austin leads 14 of 23 categories
Austin
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$86,556 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
958,202 ✓ 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.
Austin, TX
Pros
34% less violent crime than Des Moines
Households earn $24,178 more per year on average
More college-educated — 56.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 31°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $461,500
Higher rents — median is $1,549/mo
Violent crime (466.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3241.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Des Moines, IA
Pros
Homes cost $291k less ($170,700 vs $461,500)
Rent averages $554/mo less ($995 vs $1,549)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 97°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Austin
Cons
Median income trails Austin by $24,178/yr
Violent crime (703.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3126.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Austin
Median Income
$24,178
$86,556 vs $62,378/yr
Austin
Violent Crime
34% lower
466.9 vs 703.0 per 100k
Austin
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.9% unemployment
Austin
Summer Heat
11.0°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 85.6°F
Des Moines
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
Des Moines
Median Home Value
$291k less
$170,700 vs $461,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | Des Moines, IA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $461,500⚠ High | $170,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,549⚠ High | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,556 ✓ Higher | $62,378 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.9% ✓ Higher | 10.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer | 185⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 28.7% |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AUSTIN ISD | Des Moines Independent Comm School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 30.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 85.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 36.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 36.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 958,202 ✓ Larger | 213,164 |
| Median Age | 34.2 | 34.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 60.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 12.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Des Moines's 92.7 (US average = 100).
Des Moines is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Austin leads 14 of 23 categories. Austin 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 Austin to Des Moines or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($461,500 vs $170,700 median home), income ($86,556 vs $62,378), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Austin, TX and Des Moines, IA are about 812 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.