Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Des Moines, IA
VS
Rochester, NY
🏆 Des Moines leads 12 of 22 categories
Des Moines
Iowa
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,378 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
185⚠ High
Population
213,164 ✓ Larger
Rochester
New York
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7
Median Household Income
$44,156
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
210,992
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Des Moines, IA
Pros
Households earn $18,222 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (5.9%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Rochester
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
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $59k less ($111,400 vs $170,700)
17% less violent crime than Des Moines
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Des Moines by $18,222/yr
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3289.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.5% vs 5.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Des Moines
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 97.7 (100 = US avg)
Des Moines
Median Income
$18,222
$62,378 vs $44,156/yr
Des Moines
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
5.9% vs 8.5% unemployment
Des Moines
Summer Heat
3.1°F warmer
July avg high 85.6°F vs 82.5°F
Rochester
Violent Crime
17% lower
582.3 vs 703.0 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$59k less
$111,400 vs $170,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Rochester, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper | 97.7 |
| Median Home Value | $170,700 | $111,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 | $995 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,378 ✓ Higher | $44,156 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 29.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 83.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Des Moines Independent Comm School District | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.9°F | 33.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.6°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.5" | 35.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.5" ✓ Less | 102.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 213,164 ✓ Larger | 210,992 |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 37.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 12.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Des Moines's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Rochester's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Des Moines is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Des Moines leads 12 of 22 categories. Des Moines wins 12 and Rochester wins 10. 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 Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($170,700 vs $111,400 median home), income ($62,378 vs $44,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Des Moines, IA and Rochester, NY are about 823 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.