Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cary, NC
VS
Des Moines, IA
🏆 Cary leads 16 of 23 categories
Cary
North Carolina
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$125,317 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
19 ✓ Safer
Population
174,880
Des Moines
Iowa
7
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.
Cary, NC
Pros
Households earn $62,939 more per year on average
90% less violent crime than Des Moines
More college-educated — 70.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (71.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 31°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $477,400
Higher rents — median is $1,538/mo
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Des Moines
Des Moines, IA
Pros
Homes cost $307k less ($170,700 vs $477,400)
Rent averages $543/mo less ($995 vs $1,538)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Cary
Cons
Median income trails Cary by $62,939/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 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cary
Median Income
$62,939
$125,317 vs $62,378/yr
Cary
Violent Crime
90% lower
71.0 vs 703.0 per 100k
Cary
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.9% unemployment
Cary
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 89.0°F vs 85.6°F
Des Moines
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Des Moines
Median Home Value
$307k less
$170,700 vs $477,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cary, NC | Des Moines, IA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $477,400⚠ High | $170,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,538⚠ High | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $125,317 ✓ Higher | $62,378 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.3% ✓ Higher | 10.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 36 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 19 ✓ Safer | 185⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 149⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.3% ✓ Higher | 28.7% |
| High School or Higher | 96.8% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Wake County Schools | Des Moines Independent Comm School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F ✓ Warmer | 30.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F ✓ Warmer | 85.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.3" | 36.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.8" ✓ Less | 36.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 174,880 | 213,164 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.4 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 60.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cary's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Des Moines's 92.7 (US average = 100).
Des Moines is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cary leads 16 of 23 categories. Cary wins 16 and Des Moines wins 7. 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 Cary to Des Moines or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($477,400 vs $170,700 median home), income ($125,317 vs $62,378), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cary, NC and Des Moines, IA are about 891 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.