Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbia, MO
VS
Des Moines, IA
🏆 Columbia leads 13 of 23 categories
Columbia
Missouri
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,455
Violent Crime Index
91 ✓ Safer
Population
126,172
Des Moines
Iowa
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7
Median Household Income
$62,378 ✓ Higher
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.
Columbia, MO
Pros
51% less violent crime than Des Moines
More college-educated — 55.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (4.0%)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Milder winters — January highs near 39°F vs 31°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Des Moines, IA
Pros
Homes cost $78k less ($170,700 vs $248,600)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Cons
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 4.0%)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Columbia
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbia
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 92.7 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Violent Crime
51% lower
347.5 vs 703.0 per 100k
Columbia
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
4.0% vs 5.9% unemployment
Columbia
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 88.6°F vs 85.6°F
Des Moines
Median Income
$1,923
$62,378 vs $60,455/yr
Des Moines
Median Home Value
$78k less
$170,700 vs $248,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbia, MO | Des Moines, IA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper | 92.7 |
| Median Home Value | $248,600 | $170,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,455 | $62,378 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.5 min ✓ Shorter | 19.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 10.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 185⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer | 149⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.3% ✓ Higher | 28.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COLUMBIA 93 | Des Moines Independent Comm School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F ✓ Warmer | 30.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F ✓ Warmer | 85.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.8" | 36.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.4" ✓ Less | 36.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,172 | 213,164 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 34.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.8% | 60.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.0% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 12.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbia's cost of living index is 89.3 vs Des Moines's 92.7 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Columbia leads 13 of 23 categories. Columbia 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 Columbia to Des Moines or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($248,600 vs $170,700 median home), income ($60,455 vs $62,378), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbia, MO and Des Moines, IA are about 194 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.