Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Des Moines, IA
VS
New York, NY
🏆 New York leads 13 of 23 categories
Des Moines
Iowa
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,378
Violent Crime Index
185⚠ High
Population
213,164
New York
New York
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,607 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
177⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
8,622,467 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Des Moines, IA
Pros
Homes cost $561k less ($170,700 vs $732,100)
Rent averages $719/mo less ($995 vs $1,714)
Commutes run 22 min shorter each way
20% cheaper overall cost of living than New York
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.9%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Cons
Violent crime (703.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails New York by $14,229/yr
Property crime (3126.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
New York, NY
Pros
5% less violent crime than Des Moines
Households earn $14,229 more per year on average
More college-educated — 40.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 40°F vs 31°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $732,100
Higher rents — median is $1,714/mo
Violent crime (671.0/100k) 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
$561k less
$170,700 vs $732,100
Des Moines
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.9% vs 7.6% unemployment
New York
Median Income
$14,229
$76,607 vs $62,378/yr
New York
Violent Crime
5% lower
671.0 vs 703.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | New York, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $170,700 ✓ Lower | $732,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,714⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,378 | $76,607 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 41.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% | 13.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 177⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 149⚠ High | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 40.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 83.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Des Moines Independent Comm School District | NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT # 2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.9°F | 39.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.6°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.5" ✓ Drier | 47.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.5" | 24.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 213,164 | 8,622,467 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Des Moines's cost of living index is 92.7 vs New York's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Des Moines is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, New York leads 13 of 23 categories. Des Moines wins 10 and New York wins 13. 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 New York or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($170,700 vs $732,100 median home), income ($62,378 vs $76,607), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Des Moines, IA and New York, NY are about 1,024 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.