Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cambridge, MA
VS
Des Moines, IA
🏆 Des Moines leads 12 of 23 categories
Cambridge
Massachusetts
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$121,539 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,962
Des Moines
Iowa
12
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.
Cambridge, MA
Pros
Households earn $59,161 more per year on average
More college-educated — 79.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
38% less violent crime than Des Moines
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (3.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 37°F vs 31°F
Smaller class sizes — 9.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $997,600
Higher rents — median is $2,628/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Des Moines
Property crime (2644.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Des Moines, IA
Pros
Homes cost $827k less ($170,700 vs $997,600)
Rent averages $1633/mo less ($995 vs $2,628)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Cambridge
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Cons
Median income trails Cambridge by $59,161/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 3.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cambridge
Median Income
$59,161
$121,539 vs $62,378/yr
Cambridge
Violent Crime
38% lower
436.7 vs 703.0 per 100k
Cambridge
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
3.3% vs 5.9% unemployment
Des Moines
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Des Moines
Median Home Value
$827k less
$170,700 vs $997,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cambridge, MA | Des Moines, IA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $997,600⚠ High | $170,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,628⚠ High | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,539 ✓ Higher | $62,378 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.2 min | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 25.1% ✓ Higher | 10.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 185⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 149⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 9.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 28.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cambridge | Des Moines Independent Comm School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.0°F ✓ Warmer | 30.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 85.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.3" | 36.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 36.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,962 | 213,164 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.6 | 34.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 33.6% | 60.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 12.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cambridge's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Des Moines's 92.7 (US average = 100).
Des Moines is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Des Moines leads 12 of 23 categories. Cambridge wins 11 and Des Moines wins 12. 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 Cambridge to Des Moines or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($997,600 vs $170,700 median home), income ($121,539 vs $62,378), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cambridge, MA and Des Moines, IA are about 1,153 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.