Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Des Moines, IA
VS
Green Bay, WI
🏆 Green Bay leads 14 of 23 categories
Des Moines
Iowa
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7
Median Household Income
$62,378 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
185⚠ High
Population
213,164 ✓ Larger
Green Bay
Wisconsin
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,174
Violent Crime Index
130⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
106,846
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Des Moines, IA
Pros
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
More college-educated — 28.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 31°F vs 25°F
Households earn $3,204 more per year on average
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
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.1%)
Green Bay, WI
Pros
30% less violent crime than Des Moines
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (4.1%)
Rent averages $131/mo less ($864 vs $995)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 86°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (495.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Snowy winters — about 56" of snow per year
Median income trails Des Moines by $3,204/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Des Moines
Median Income
$3,204
$62,378 vs $59,174/yr
Des Moines
Summer Heat
5.8°F warmer
July avg high 85.6°F vs 79.8°F
Green Bay
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 92.7 (100 = US avg)
Green Bay
Violent Crime
30% lower
495.1 vs 703.0 per 100k
Green Bay
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Green Bay, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $170,700 ✓ Lower | $172,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 | $864 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,378 ✓ Higher | $59,174 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min | 18.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% ✓ Higher | 7.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 149⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% ✓ Higher | 25.1% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 88.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Des Moines Independent Comm School District | Green Bay Area Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.9°F ✓ Warmer | 24.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.6°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.5" | 32.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.5" ✓ Less | 55.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 213,164 ✓ Larger | 106,846 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 56.2% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Des Moines's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Green Bay's 92.1 (US average = 100).
Green Bay is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Green Bay leads 14 of 23 categories. Des Moines wins 9 and Green Bay 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 Green Bay or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($170,700 vs $172,700 median home), income ($62,378 vs $59,174), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Des Moines, IA and Green Bay, WI are about 349 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.