Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Des Moines, IA
VS
Jacksonville, FL
🏆 Jacksonville 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
Jacksonville
Florida
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.2
Median Household Income
$64,138 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
164⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
950,203 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Des Moines, IA
Pros
Homes cost $72k less ($170,700 vs $243,000)
Rent averages $286/mo less ($995 vs $1,281)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Jacksonville
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 92°F
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 4.8%)
Jacksonville, FL
Pros
11% less violent crime than Des Moines
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 31°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.8%)
Cons
Violent crime (623.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2494.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Des Moines
Key Differences at a Glance
Des Moines
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 99.2 (100 = US avg)
Des Moines
Median Home Value
$72k less
$170,700 vs $243,000
Jacksonville
Median Income
$1,760
$64,138 vs $62,378/yr
Jacksonville
Violent Crime
11% lower
623.8 vs 703.0 per 100k
Jacksonville
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.9% unemployment
Jacksonville
Summer Heat
6.2°F warmer
July avg high 91.8°F vs 85.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Jacksonville, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper | 99.2 |
| Median Home Value | $170,700 ✓ Lower | $243,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,281 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,378 | $64,138 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 24.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% | 11.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 164⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 149⚠ High | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 90.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Des Moines Independent Comm School District | DUVAL |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.9°F | 65.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.6°F | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.5" ✓ Drier | 53.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 213,164 | 950,203 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 57.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% ✓ More | 22.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 14.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Des Moines's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Jacksonville's 99.2 (US average = 100).
Des Moines is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Jacksonville leads 15 of 23 categories. Des Moines wins 8 and Jacksonville 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 Jacksonville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($170,700 vs $243,000 median home), income ($62,378 vs $64,138), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Des Moines, IA and Jacksonville, FL are about 1,022 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.