Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Des Moines, IA
VS
Jersey City, NJ
🏆 Jersey City 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
Jersey City
New Jersey
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,151 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
148⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
287,899 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Des Moines, IA
Pros
Homes cost $329k less ($170,700 vs $500,100)
Rent averages $804/mo less ($995 vs $1,799)
Commutes run 18 min shorter each way
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Jersey City
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Cons
Median income trails Jersey City by $28,773/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
Jersey City, NJ
Pros
Households earn $28,773 more per year on average
20% less violent crime than Des Moines
More college-educated — 51.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 39°F vs 31°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $500,100
Higher rents — median is $1,799/mo
Violent crime (561.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Des Moines
Key Differences at a Glance
Des Moines
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Des Moines
Median Home Value
$329k less
$170,700 vs $500,100
Jersey City
Median Income
$28,773
$91,151 vs $62,378/yr
Jersey City
Violent Crime
20% lower
561.6 vs 703.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Jersey City, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $170,700 ✓ Lower | $500,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,799⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,378 | $91,151 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 37.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% | 18.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 148⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 149⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 51.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Des Moines Independent Comm School District | Jersey City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.9°F | 39.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.6°F | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.5" ✓ Drier | 50.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.5" | 28.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 213,164 | 287,899 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 34.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 29.2% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Des Moines's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Jersey City's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Des Moines is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Jersey City leads 15 of 23 categories. Des Moines wins 8 and Jersey City 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 Jersey City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($170,700 vs $500,100 median home), income ($62,378 vs $91,151), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Des Moines, IA and Jersey City, NJ are about 1,017 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.