Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Des Moines, IA
VS
Reno, NV
🏆 Reno 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
Reno
Nevada
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,073 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
265,196 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Des Moines, IA
Pros
Homes cost $291k less ($170,700 vs $462,100)
Rent averages $365/mo less ($995 vs $1,360)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Reno
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
Median income trails Reno by $10,695/yr
Property crime (3126.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 5.0%)
Reno, NV
Pros
25% less violent crime than Des Moines
Households earn $10,695 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 46°F vs 31°F
More college-educated — 35.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $462,100
Higher rents — median is $1,360/mo
Violent crime (529.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Des Moines
Key Differences at a Glance
Des Moines
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 102.8 (100 = US avg)
Des Moines
Median Home Value
$291k less
$170,700 vs $462,100
Reno
Median Income
$10,695
$73,073 vs $62,378/yr
Reno
Violent Crime
25% lower
529.6 vs 703.0 per 100k
Reno
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.9% unemployment
Reno
Summer Heat
7.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 85.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Reno, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper | 102.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $170,700 ✓ Lower | $462,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,360⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,378 | $73,073 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 20.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 149⚠ High | 116⚠ 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 | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 35.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Des Moines Independent Comm School District | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.9°F | 45.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.6°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.5" | 9.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.5" | 33.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 213,164 | 265,196 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 48.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% ✓ More | 19.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Des Moines's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Reno's 102.8 (US average = 100).
Des Moines is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Reno leads 15 of 23 categories. Des Moines wins 8 and Reno 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 Reno or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($170,700 vs $462,100 median home), income ($62,378 vs $73,073), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Des Moines, IA and Reno, NV are about 1,379 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.