Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Davie, FL
VS
Des Moines, IA
🏆 Davie leads 11 of 20 categories
Davie
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,346 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
105,821
Des Moines
Iowa
9
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.
Davie, FL
Pros
Households earn $21,968 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 31°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.5%)
More college-educated — 40.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $405,100
Higher rents — median is $1,805/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Des Moines
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Des Moines, IA
Pros
Homes cost $234k less ($170,700 vs $405,100)
Rent averages $810/mo less ($995 vs $1,805)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Davie
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Davie by $21,968/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
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Davie
Median Income
$21,968
$84,346 vs $62,378/yr
Davie
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.9% unemployment
Davie
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 90.2°F vs 85.6°F
Des Moines
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Des Moines
Median Home Value
$234k less
$170,700 vs $405,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Davie, FL | Des Moines, IA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $405,100⚠ High | $170,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,805⚠ High | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,346 ✓ Higher | $62,378 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.8 min⚠ High | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.9% ✓ Higher | 10.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 171⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 185⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 149⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.2% ✓ Higher | 28.7% |
| High School or Higher | 90.6% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWARD | Des Moines Independent Comm School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 75.6°F ✓ Warmer | 30.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer | 85.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.8" | 36.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 36.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,821 | 213,164 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.8 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.4% ✓ Higher | 60.3% |
| Under 18 | 21.6% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 12.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Davie's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Des Moines's 92.7 (US average = 100).
Des Moines is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Davie leads 11 of 20 categories. Davie wins 11 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 Davie to Des Moines or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($405,100 vs $170,700 median home), income ($84,346 vs $62,378), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Davie, FL and Des Moines, IA are about 1,312 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.