Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Des Moines, IA
VS
Greensboro, NC
🏆 Des Moines leads 13 of 22 categories
Des Moines
Iowa
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7
Median Household Income
$62,378 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
185⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
213,164
Greensboro
North Carolina
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7
Median Household Income
$55,051
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
297,202 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Des Moines, IA
Pros
24% less violent crime than Greensboro
Homes cost $27k less ($170,700 vs $197,200)
Households earn $7,327 more per year on average
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
Greensboro, NC
Pros
More college-educated — 39.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 31°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Cons
Violent crime (923.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3383.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Des Moines by $7,327/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Des Moines
Median Income
$7,327
$62,378 vs $55,051/yr
Des Moines
Violent Crime
24% lower
703.0 vs 923.7 per 100k
Des Moines
Median Home Value
$27k less
$170,700 vs $197,200
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 92.7 on the COL index
Greensboro
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 88.6°F vs 85.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Greensboro, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 | 92.7 |
| Median Home Value | $170,700 ✓ Lower | $197,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,048 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,378 ✓ Higher | $55,051 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 21.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High ✓ Safer | 210⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer | 161⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 39.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 90.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Des Moines Independent Comm School District | Guilford County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.9°F | 50.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.6°F | 88.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.5" ✓ Drier | 45.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.5" | 7.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 213,164 | 297,202 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 34.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 49.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% ✓ More | 22.1% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 13.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Des Moines's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Greensboro's 92.7 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Des Moines leads 13 of 22 categories. Des Moines wins 13 and Greensboro wins 9. 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 Greensboro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($170,700 vs $197,200 median home), income ($62,378 vs $55,051), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Des Moines, IA and Greensboro, NC are about 832 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.