Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boulder, CO
VS
Des Moines, IA
🏆 Boulder leads 13 of 23 categories
Boulder
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,243 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
106,598
Des Moines
Iowa
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,378
Violent Crime Index
185⚠ High
Population
213,164 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boulder, CO
Pros
54% less violent crime than Des Moines
More college-educated — 76.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $17,865 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 31°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $919,700
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Des Moines
Property crime (2733.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Des Moines, IA
Pros
Homes cost $749k less ($170,700 vs $919,700)
Rent averages $858/mo less ($995 vs $1,853)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Boulder
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (703.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Boulder by $17,865/yr
Property crime (3126.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Boulder
Median Income
$17,865
$80,243 vs $62,378/yr
Boulder
Violent Crime
54% lower
322.3 vs 703.0 per 100k
Boulder
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.4% vs 5.9% unemployment
Des Moines
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 107.2 (100 = US avg)
Des Moines
Median Home Value
$749k less
$170,700 vs $919,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boulder, CO | Des Moines, IA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.2⚠ High | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $919,700⚠ High | $170,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,243 ✓ Higher | $62,378 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 19.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 28.0% ✓ Higher | 10.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 85 ✓ Safer | 185⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer | 149⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 28.7% |
| High School or Higher | 96.9% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boulder Valley School District No. Re2 | Des Moines Independent Comm School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.0°F ✓ Warmer | 30.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer | 85.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 36.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 85.2" | 36.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,598 | 213,164 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 34.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.2% | 60.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 11.7% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 12.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boulder's cost of living index is 107.2 vs Des Moines's 92.7 (US average = 100).
Des Moines is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boulder leads 13 of 23 categories. Boulder wins 13 and Des Moines wins 10. 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 Boulder to Des Moines or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($919,700 vs $170,700 median home), income ($80,243 vs $62,378), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boulder, CO and Des Moines, IA are about 618 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.