Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Des Moines, IA
VS
Germantown, MD
🏆 Germantown leads 12 of 20 categories
Des Moines
Iowa
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,378
Violent Crime Index
185⚠ High
Population
213,164 ✓ Larger
Germantown
Maryland
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,268 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
90,210
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Des Moines, IA
Pros
Homes cost $223k less ($170,700 vs $393,700)
Rent averages $913/mo less ($995 vs $1,908)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Germantown
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Cons
Median income trails Germantown by $46,890/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 5.2%)
Germantown, MD
Pros
Households earn $46,890 more per year on average
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 39°F vs 31°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $393,700
Higher rents — median is $1,908/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Des Moines
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Des Moines
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Des Moines
Median Home Value
$223k less
$170,700 vs $393,700
Germantown
Median Income
$46,890
$109,268 vs $62,378/yr
Germantown
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.2% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Germantown, MD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper | 108.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $170,700 ✓ Lower | $393,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,908⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,378 | $109,268 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 33.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% | 16.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 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- (93) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 89.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Des Moines Independent Comm School District | Montgomery County Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.9°F | 39.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.6°F ✓ Warmer | 84.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.5" ✓ Drier | 46.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.5" | 32.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 213,164 ✓ Larger | 90,210 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% | 65.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | 24.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Des Moines's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Germantown's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Des Moines is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Germantown leads 12 of 20 categories. Des Moines wins 8 and Germantown 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 Germantown or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($170,700 vs $393,700 median home), income ($62,378 vs $109,268), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Des Moines, IA and Germantown, MD are about 875 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.