Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clovis, CA
VS
Des Moines, IA
🏆 Clovis leads 15 of 23 categories
Clovis
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,554 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
120,607
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.
Clovis, CA
Pros
Households earn $36,176 more per year on average
65% less violent crime than Des Moines
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.6 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 31°F
More college-educated — 35.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $420,700
Higher rents — median is $1,482/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Des Moines
Des Moines, IA
Pros
Homes cost $250k less ($170,700 vs $420,700)
Rent averages $487/mo less ($995 vs $1,482)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Clovis
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 98°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Cons
Median income trails Clovis by $36,176/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
Key Differences at a Glance
Clovis
Median Income
$36,176
$98,554 vs $62,378/yr
Clovis
Violent Crime
65% lower
244.6 vs 703.0 per 100k
Clovis
Summer Heat
12.1°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 85.6°F
Des Moines
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 107.8 (100 = US avg)
Des Moines
Median Home Value
$250k less
$170,700 vs $420,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clovis, CA | Des Moines, IA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.8⚠ High | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $420,700⚠ High | $170,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,482⚠ High | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,554 ✓ Higher | $62,378 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.1% | 10.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 70 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 185⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 149⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.2:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.3% ✓ Higher | 28.7% |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clovis Unified | Des Moines Independent Comm School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.4°F ✓ Warmer | 30.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer | 85.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.6" ✓ Drier | 36.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 36.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,607 | 213,164 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.8 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.5% ✓ Higher | 60.3% |
| Under 18 | 28.9% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clovis's cost of living index is 107.8 vs Des Moines's 92.7 (US average = 100).
Des Moines is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Clovis leads 15 of 23 categories. Clovis 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 Clovis to Des Moines or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($420,700 vs $170,700 median home), income ($98,554 vs $62,378), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clovis, CA and Des Moines, IA are about 1,428 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.