Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Des Moines, IA
VS
Fishers, IN
🏆 Fishers leads 14 of 23 categories
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
Fishers
Indiana
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6
Median Household Income
$126,548 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
19 ✓ Safer
Population
99,041
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Des Moines, IA
Pros
Homes cost $168k less ($170,700 vs $339,000)
Rent averages $483/mo less ($995 vs $1,478)
Commutes run 7 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 Fishers by $64,170/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 2.5%)
Fishers, IN
Pros
Households earn $64,170 more per year on average
90% less violent crime than Des Moines
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (2.5%)
More college-educated — 65.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (72.9 vs 380/100k)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.6)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $339,000
Higher rents — median is $1,478/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Des Moines
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 94.6 (100 = US avg)
Des Moines
Median Home Value
$168k less
$170,700 vs $339,000
Fishers
Median Income
$64,170
$126,548 vs $62,378/yr
Fishers
Violent Crime
90% lower
72.9 vs 703.0 per 100k
Fishers
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
2.5% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Fishers, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper | 94.6 |
| Median Home Value | $170,700 ✓ Lower | $339,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,478⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,378 | $126,548 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 2.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 26.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% | 18.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High | 24 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 19 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 149⚠ High | 31 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A (118) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 65.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 98.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Des Moines Independent Comm School District | Hamilton Southeastern Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.9°F | 34.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.6°F ✓ Warmer | 84.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.5" ✓ Drier | 45.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.5" | 26.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 213,164 ✓ Larger | 99,041 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% | 77.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | 27.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Des Moines's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Fishers's 94.6 (US average = 100).
Des Moines is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fishers leads 14 of 23 categories. Des Moines wins 9 and Fishers wins 14. 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 Fishers or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($170,700 vs $339,000 median home), income ($62,378 vs $126,548), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Des Moines, IA and Fishers, IN are about 415 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.