Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Des Moines, IA
VS
El Monte, CA
🏆 Des Moines leads 15 of 23 categories
Des Moines
Iowa
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,378 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
185⚠ High
Population
213,164 ✓ Larger
El Monte
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,929
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,682
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Des Moines, IA
Pros
Homes cost $427k less ($170,700 vs $597,200)
Rent averages $610/mo less ($995 vs $1,605)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than El Monte
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.9%)
More college-educated — 28.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
El Monte, CA
Pros
40% less violent crime than Des Moines
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 31°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,200
Higher rents — median is $1,605/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Des Moines
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Des Moines
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Des Moines
Median Income
$2,449
$62,378 vs $59,929/yr
Des Moines
Median Home Value
$427k less
$170,700 vs $597,200
Des Moines
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.9% vs 7.0% unemployment
El Monte
Violent Crime
40% lower
423.2 vs 703.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | El Monte, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $170,700 ✓ Lower | $597,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,605⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,378 ✓ Higher | $59,929 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 29.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 149⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C- (66) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% ✓ Higher | 13.7% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 63.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Des Moines Independent Comm School District | Mountain View Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.9°F | 68.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.6°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.5" | 15.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 213,164 ✓ Larger | 108,682 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 39.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% ✓ More | 22.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Des Moines's cost of living index is 92.7 vs El Monte's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Des Moines is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Des Moines leads 15 of 23 categories. Des Moines wins 15 and El Monte wins 8. 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 El Monte or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($170,700 vs $597,200 median home), income ($62,378 vs $59,929), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Des Moines, IA and El Monte, CA are about 1,424 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.