Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Des Moines, IA
VS
Indianapolis, IN
🏆 Des Moines leads 13 of 23 categories
Des Moines
Iowa
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,378 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
185⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
213,164
Indianapolis
Indiana
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6
Median Household Income
$59,110
Violent Crime Index
231⚠ High
Population
882,006 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Des Moines, IA
Pros
20% less violent crime than Indianapolis
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Households earn $3,268 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
Indianapolis, IN
Pros
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.6)
More college-educated — 33.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 12.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (877.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3336.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Des Moines by $3,268/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Des Moines
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 94.6 (100 = US avg)
Des Moines
Median Income
$3,268
$62,378 vs $59,110/yr
Des Moines
Violent Crime
20% lower
703.0 vs 877.9 per 100k
Des Moines
Median Home Value
$14k less
$170,700 vs $184,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Indianapolis, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper | 94.6 |
| Median Home Value | $170,700 ✓ Lower | $184,600 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,046 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,378 ✓ Higher | $59,110 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 24.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% | 10.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High ✓ Safer | 202⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer | 159⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 33.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 87.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Des Moines Independent Comm School District | Indianapolis Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.9°F | 34.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.6°F ✓ Warmer | 83.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.5" ✓ Drier | 41.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.5" | 25.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 213,164 | 882,006 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Des Moines's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Indianapolis's 94.6 (US average = 100).
Des Moines is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Des Moines leads 13 of 23 categories. Des Moines wins 13 and Indianapolis wins 10. 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 Indianapolis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($170,700 vs $184,600 median home), income ($62,378 vs $59,110), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Des Moines, IA and Indianapolis, IN are about 410 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.