Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Des Moines, IA
VS
Goodyear, AZ
🏆 Goodyear leads 15 of 23 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
Goodyear
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,307 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
97,542
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Des Moines, IA
Pros
Homes cost $225k less ($170,700 vs $396,100)
Rent averages $716/mo less ($995 vs $1,711)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 107°F
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Goodyear
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Cons
Median income trails Goodyear by $34,929/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
Goodyear, AZ
Pros
74% less violent crime than Des Moines
Households earn $34,929 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 31°F
More college-educated — 33.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $396,100
Higher rents — median is $1,711/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Des Moines
Longer commutes — 29.7 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Des Moines
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 101.2 (100 = US avg)
Des Moines
Median Home Value
$225k less
$170,700 vs $396,100
Goodyear
Median Income
$34,929
$97,307 vs $62,378/yr
Goodyear
Violent Crime
74% lower
182.2 vs 703.0 per 100k
Goodyear
Summer Heat
21.8°F warmer
July avg high 107.4°F vs 85.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Goodyear, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper | 101.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $170,700 ✓ Lower | $396,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,711⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,378 | $97,307 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 29.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% | 16.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High | 57 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 149⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 33.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Des Moines Independent Comm School District | Incito Schools (91326) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.9°F | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.6°F | 107.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.5" | 8.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 213,164 ✓ Larger | 97,542 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% | 77.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.2% ✓ More | 22.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Des Moines's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Goodyear's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Des Moines is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Goodyear leads 15 of 23 categories. Des Moines wins 8 and Goodyear wins 15. 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 Goodyear or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($170,700 vs $396,100 median home), income ($62,378 vs $97,307), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Des Moines, IA and Goodyear, AZ are about 1,175 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.