Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbus, OH
VS
Des Moines, IA
🏆 Columbus leads 12 of 23 categories
Columbus
Ohio
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.5
Median Household Income
$62,994 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
902,449 ✓ Larger
Des Moines
Iowa
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,378
Violent Crime Index
185⚠ High
Population
213,164
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Columbus, OH
Pros
38% less violent crime than Des Moines
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 38.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.5)
Milder winters — January highs near 37°F vs 31°F
Cons
Property crime (2653.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Des Moines, IA
Pros
Homes cost $42k less ($170,700 vs $212,500)
Rent averages $166/mo less ($995 vs $1,161)
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 5.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbus
Median Income
$616
$62,994 vs $62,378/yr
Columbus
Violent Crime
38% lower
434.9 vs 703.0 per 100k
Columbus
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.2% vs 5.9% unemployment
Des Moines
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 94.5 (100 = US avg)
Des Moines
Median Home Value
$42k less
$170,700 vs $212,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbus, OH | Des Moines, IA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.5 | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $212,500 | $170,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,161 | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,994 ✓ Higher | $62,378 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 10.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 185⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 149⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.3% ✓ Higher | 28.7% |
| High School or Higher | 90.3% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Columbus City Schools District | Des Moines Independent Comm School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.5°F ✓ Warmer | 30.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.0°F | 85.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.2" | 36.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" ✓ Less | 36.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 902,449 ✓ Larger | 213,164 |
| Median Age | 32.7 | 34.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% | 60.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.9% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 12.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbus's cost of living index is 94.5 vs Des Moines's 92.7 (US average = 100).
Des Moines is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Columbus leads 12 of 23 categories. Columbus wins 12 and Des Moines wins 11. 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 ($212,500 vs $170,700 median home), income ($62,994 vs $62,378), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbus, OH and Des Moines, IA are about 566 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.