Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Des Moines, IA
VS
Fullerton, CA
🏆 Fullerton leads 12 of 22 categories
Des Moines
Iowa
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,378
Violent Crime Index
185⚠ High
Population
213,164 ✓ Larger
Fullerton
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,279 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
142,280
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Des Moines, IA
Pros
Homes cost $620k less ($170,700 vs $791,000)
Rent averages $994/mo less ($995 vs $1,989)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Fullerton
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.9%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Cons
Median income trails Fullerton by $36,901/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
Fullerton, CA
Pros
Households earn $36,901 more per year on average
35% less violent crime than Des Moines
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 31°F
More college-educated — 44.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $791,000
Higher rents — median is $1,989/mo
Violent crime (455.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Des Moines
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 Home Value
$620k less
$170,700 vs $791,000
Des Moines
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.9% vs 6.9% unemployment
Fullerton
Median Income
$36,901
$99,279 vs $62,378/yr
Fullerton
Violent Crime
35% lower
455.3 vs 703.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Fullerton, 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 | $791,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,989⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,378 | $99,279 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 30.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 149⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 44.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 89.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Des Moines Independent Comm School District | Fullerton Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.9°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.6°F ✓ Warmer | 84.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.5" | 11.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 213,164 ✓ Larger | 142,280 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 35.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% ✓ More | 22.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Des Moines's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Fullerton's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Des Moines is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Fullerton leads 12 of 22 categories. Des Moines wins 10 and Fullerton 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 Fullerton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($170,700 vs $791,000 median home), income ($62,378 vs $99,279), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Des Moines, IA and Fullerton, CA are about 1,425 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.