Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baltimore, MD
VS
Des Moines, IA
🏆 Des Moines leads 13 of 23 categories
Baltimore
Maryland
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$58,349
Violent Crime Index
423⚠ High
Population
584,548 ✓ Larger
Des Moines
Iowa
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,378 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
185⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
213,164
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baltimore, MD
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 44°F vs 31°F
More college-educated — 34.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (1606.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4157.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Des Moines
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 5.9%)
Des Moines, IA
Pros
56% less violent crime than Baltimore
Rent averages $240/mo less ($995 vs $1,235)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Homes cost $32k less ($170,700 vs $202,900)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.9%)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Baltimore
Cons
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
Key Differences at a Glance
Baltimore
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 90.1°F vs 85.6°F
Des Moines
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 102.7 (100 = US avg)
Des Moines
Median Income
$4,029
$62,378 vs $58,349/yr
Des Moines
Violent Crime
56% lower
703.0 vs 1606.2 per 100k
Des Moines
Median Home Value
$32k less
$170,700 vs $202,900
Des Moines
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.9% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baltimore, MD | Des Moines, IA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $202,900 | $170,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,349 | $62,378 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% ✓ Higher | 10.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 171⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 423⚠ High | 185⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.9% ✓ Higher | 28.7% |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 87.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Baltimore City Public Schools | Des Moines Independent Comm School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 43.7°F ✓ Warmer | 30.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.1°F ✓ Warmer | 85.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.7" | 36.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 19.3" ✓ Less | 36.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 584,548 ✓ Larger | 213,164 |
| Median Age | 36.0 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 60.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.8% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baltimore's cost of living index is 102.7 vs Des Moines's 92.7 (US average = 100).
Des Moines is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Des Moines leads 13 of 23 categories. Baltimore wins 10 and Des Moines wins 13. 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 Baltimore to Des Moines or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($202,900 vs $170,700 median home), income ($58,349 vs $62,378), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baltimore, MD and Des Moines, IA are about 906 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.