Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Des Moines, IA
VS
Oklahoma City, OK
🏆 Oklahoma City leads 15 of 23 categories
Des Moines
Iowa
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7
Median Household Income
$62,378
Violent Crime Index
185⚠ High
Population
213,164
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,251 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
681,088 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Des Moines, IA
Pros
Homes cost $26k less ($170,700 vs $196,700)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
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 4.5%)
Oklahoma City, OK
Pros
4% less violent crime than Des Moines
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 31°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
More college-educated — 33.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (676.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2893.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Des Moines
Median Home Value
$26k less
$170,700 vs $196,700
Oklahoma City
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 92.7 (100 = US avg)
Oklahoma City
Median Income
$1,873
$64,251 vs $62,378/yr
Oklahoma City
Violent Crime
4% lower
676.0 vs 703.0 per 100k
Oklahoma City
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.9% unemployment
Oklahoma City
Summer Heat
7.5°F warmer
July avg high 93.1°F vs 85.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Oklahoma City, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $170,700 ✓ Lower | $196,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,012 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,378 | $64,251 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 22.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% ✓ Higher | 8.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High | 162⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 178⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 149⚠ High | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 33.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 87.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Des Moines Independent Comm School District | OKLAHOMA CITY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.9°F | 49.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.6°F | 93.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.5" ✓ Drier | 37.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.5" | 6.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 213,164 | 681,088 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 59.5% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 13.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Des Moines's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Oklahoma City's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Oklahoma City is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Oklahoma City leads 15 of 23 categories. Des Moines wins 8 and Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($170,700 vs $196,700 median home), income ($62,378 vs $64,251), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Des Moines, IA and Oklahoma City, OK are about 472 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.