Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbus, GA
VS
Des Moines, IA
🏆 Columbus leads 14 of 23 categories
Columbus
Georgia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,561
Violent Crime Index
159⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
204,572
Des Moines
Iowa
9
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.
Columbus, GA
Pros
14% less violent crime than Des Moines
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 31°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.8)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Des Moines
Cons
Violent crime (603.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Des Moines by $7,817/yr
Higher unemployment (7.3% vs 5.9%)
Des Moines, IA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.9%)
Households earn $7,817 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 92°F
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
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Columbus
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbus
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 88.8 vs 92.7 (100 = US avg)
Columbus
Violent Crime
14% lower
603.8 vs 703.0 per 100k
Columbus
Summer Heat
6.2°F warmer
July avg high 91.8°F vs 85.6°F
Des Moines
Median Income
$7,817
$62,378 vs $54,561/yr
Des Moines
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.9% vs 7.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbus, GA | Des Moines, IA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.8 ✓ Cheaper | 92.7 |
| Median Home Value | $168,400 ✓ Lower | $170,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,038 | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,561 | $62,378 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.3%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.2 min | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 10.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 159⚠ High ✓ Safer | 185⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer | 149⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% | 28.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.5% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Muscogee County | Des Moines Independent Comm School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.5°F ✓ Warmer | 30.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer | 85.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" | 36.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" ✓ Less | 36.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 204,572 | 213,164 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.9 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.5% | 60.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 14.1% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbus's cost of living index is 88.8 vs Des Moines's 92.7 (US average = 100).
Columbus is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Columbus leads 14 of 23 categories. Columbus wins 14 and Des Moines wins 9. 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 Columbus to Des Moines or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,400 vs $170,700 median home), income ($54,561 vs $62,378), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbus, GA and Des Moines, IA are about 789 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.