Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbia, SC
VS
Des Moines, IA
🏆 Des Moines leads 15 of 23 categories
Columbia
South Carolina
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.9
Median Household Income
$54,095
Violent Crime Index
203⚠ High
Population
136,754
Des Moines
Iowa
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,378 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
185⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
213,164 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Columbia, SC
Pros
More college-educated — 44.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 31°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.9)
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (769.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Des Moines by $8,283/yr
Property crime (3232.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.9% vs 5.9%)
Des Moines, IA
Pros
Homes cost $56k less ($170,700 vs $226,200)
9% less violent crime than Columbia
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (5.9%)
Households earn $8,283 more per year on average
Rent averages $110/mo less ($995 vs $1,105)
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
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbia
Summer Heat
6.9°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 85.6°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 92.9 on the COL index
Des Moines
Median Income
$8,283
$62,378 vs $54,095/yr
Des Moines
Violent Crime
9% lower
703.0 vs 769.9 per 100k
Des Moines
Median Home Value
$56k less
$170,700 vs $226,200
Des Moines
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
5.9% vs 7.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbia, SC | Des Moines, IA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.9 | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $226,200 | $170,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,105 | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,095 | $62,378 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.4 min ✓ Shorter | 19.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.3% | 10.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 171⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 203⚠ High | 185⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.8% ✓ Higher | 28.7% |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richland 01 | Des Moines Independent Comm School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.3°F ✓ Warmer | 30.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 85.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.7" | 36.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.4" ✓ Less | 36.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,754 | 213,164 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.3 | 34.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 60.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 12.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbia's cost of living index is 92.9 vs Des Moines's 92.7 (US average = 100).
Des Moines is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Des Moines leads 15 of 23 categories. Columbia wins 8 and Des Moines wins 15. 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 ($226,200 vs $170,700 median home), income ($54,095 vs $62,378), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbia, SC and Des Moines, IA are about 866 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.