Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Des Moines, IA
VS
Edinburg, TX
🏆 Edinburg leads 12 of 23 categories
Des Moines
Iowa
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7
Median Household Income
$62,378 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
185⚠ High
Population
213,164 ✓ Larger
Edinburg
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,139
Violent Crime Index
71 ✓ Safer
Population
100,964
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Des Moines, IA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (5.9%)
Households earn $8,239 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 97°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 7% higher than Edinburg
Edinburg, TX
Pros
62% less violent crime than Des Moines
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 31°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.6)
Rent averages $75/mo less ($920 vs $995)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Des Moines
Cons
Median income trails Des Moines by $8,239/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 5.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Des Moines
Median Income
$8,239
$62,378 vs $54,139/yr
Des Moines
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
5.9% vs 7.2% unemployment
Edinburg
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 92.7 (100 = US avg)
Edinburg
Violent Crime
62% lower
269.6 vs 703.0 per 100k
Edinburg
Median Home Value
$11k less
$159,600 vs $170,700
Edinburg
Summer Heat
11.1°F warmer
July avg high 96.7°F vs 85.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Edinburg, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $170,700 | $159,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 | $920 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,378 ✓ Higher | $54,139 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 19.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 71 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 149⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% ✓ Higher | 28.4% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 79.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Des Moines Independent Comm School District | EDINBURG CISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.9°F | 70.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.6°F | 96.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.5" | 26.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.5" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 213,164 ✓ Larger | 100,964 |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 29.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 53.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | 27.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% ✓ More | 9.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Des Moines's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Edinburg's 85.6 (US average = 100).
Edinburg is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Edinburg leads 12 of 23 categories. Des Moines wins 11 and Edinburg wins 12. 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 Des Moines to Edinburg or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($170,700 vs $159,600 median home), income ($62,378 vs $54,139), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Des Moines, IA and Edinburg, TX are about 1,085 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.