Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Des Moines, IA
VS
Huntington Beach, CA
🏆 Huntington Beach leads 14 of 23 categories
Des Moines
Iowa
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,378
Violent Crime Index
185⚠ High
Population
213,164 ✓ Larger
Huntington Beach
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$114,747 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
55 ✓ Safer
Population
197,481
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Des Moines, IA
Pros
Homes cost $806k less ($170,700 vs $976,800)
Rent averages $1323/mo less ($995 vs $2,318)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Huntington Beach
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Huntington Beach by $52,369/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
Huntington Beach, CA
Pros
Households earn $52,369 more per year on average
71% less violent crime than Des Moines
Violent crime is well below the national average (207.3 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 31°F
More college-educated — 46.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.4%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $976,800
Higher rents — median is $2,318/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Des Moines
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Des Moines
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Des Moines
Median Home Value
$806k less
$170,700 vs $976,800
Des Moines
Summer Heat
6.7°F warmer
July avg high 85.6°F vs 78.9°F
Huntington Beach
Median Income
$52,369
$114,747 vs $62,378/yr
Huntington Beach
Violent Crime
71% lower
207.3 vs 703.0 per 100k
Huntington Beach
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.4% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Huntington Beach, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $170,700 ✓ Lower | $976,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $2,318⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,378 | $114,747 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 29.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% | 16.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High | 71 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 55 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 149⚠ High | 95 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 46.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 93.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Des Moines Independent Comm School District | Huntington Beach City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.9°F | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.6°F ✓ Warmer | 78.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.5" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 213,164 ✓ Larger | 197,481 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 43.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 55.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% ✓ More | 17.9% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Des Moines's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Huntington Beach's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Des Moines is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Huntington Beach leads 14 of 23 categories. Des Moines wins 9 and Huntington Beach 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 Huntington Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($170,700 vs $976,800 median home), income ($62,378 vs $114,747), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Des Moines, IA and Huntington Beach, CA are about 1,435 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.