Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Centennial, CO
VS
Des Moines, IA
🏆 Centennial leads 15 of 23 categories
Centennial
Colorado
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$124,617 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
107,702
Des Moines
Iowa
8
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.
Centennial, CO
Pros
Households earn $62,239 more per year on average
75% less violent crime than Des Moines
More college-educated — 61.3% 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 (172.8 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 31°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $586,500
Higher rents — median is $1,949/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Des Moines
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Des Moines, IA
Pros
Homes cost $416k less ($170,700 vs $586,500)
Rent averages $954/mo less ($995 vs $1,949)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Centennial
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Centennial by $62,239/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
Centennial
Median Income
$62,239
$124,617 vs $62,378/yr
Centennial
Violent Crime
75% lower
172.8 vs 703.0 per 100k
Centennial
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.9% unemployment
Des Moines
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Des Moines
Median Home Value
$416k less
$170,700 vs $586,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Centennial, CO | Des Moines, IA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $586,500⚠ High | $170,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,949⚠ High | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $124,617 ✓ Higher | $62,378 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.2% ✓ Higher | 10.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 185⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 149⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% ✓ Higher | 28.7% |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | Des Moines Independent Comm School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F ✓ Warmer | 30.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 85.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.0" ✓ Drier | 36.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 36.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 107,702 | 213,164 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.6 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 82.3% ✓ Higher | 60.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.9% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Centennial's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Des Moines's 92.7 (US average = 100).
Des Moines is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Centennial leads 15 of 23 categories. Centennial wins 15 and Des Moines wins 8. 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 Centennial to Des Moines or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($586,500 vs $170,700 median home), income ($124,617 vs $62,378), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Centennial, CO and Des Moines, IA are about 606 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.