Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Des Moines, IA
VS
Glendale, AZ
🏆 Glendale leads 13 of 23 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
Glendale
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$66,375 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
248,083 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Des Moines, IA
Pros
Homes cost $139k less ($170,700 vs $310,000)
Rent averages $273/mo less ($995 vs $1,268)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 105°F
More college-educated — 28.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
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
Median income trails Glendale by $3,997/yr
Glendale, AZ
Pros
31% less violent crime than Des Moines
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 31°F
Households earn $3,997 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $310,000
Violent crime (488.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2670.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Des Moines
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
Des Moines
Median Home Value
$139k less
$170,700 vs $310,000
Glendale
Median Income
$3,997
$66,375 vs $62,378/yr
Glendale
Violent Crime
31% lower
488.4 vs 703.0 per 100k
Glendale
Summer Heat
19.3°F warmer
July avg high 104.9°F vs 85.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Glendale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper | 97.6 |
| Median Home Value | $170,700 ✓ Lower | $310,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,268 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,378 | $66,375 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 28.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 149⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% ✓ Higher | 22.6% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 84.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Des Moines Independent Comm School District | Peoria Unified School District (4237) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.9°F | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.6°F | 104.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.5" | 8.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.5" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 213,164 | 248,083 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 57.2% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | 25.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Des Moines's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Glendale's 97.6 (US average = 100).
Des Moines is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Glendale leads 13 of 23 categories. Des Moines wins 10 and Glendale wins 13. 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 Glendale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($170,700 vs $310,000 median home), income ($62,378 vs $66,375), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Des Moines, IA and Glendale, AZ are about 1,156 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.