Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Des Moines, IA
VS
Roseville, CA
🏆 Roseville leads 16 of 23 categories
Des Moines
Iowa
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,378
Violent Crime Index
185⚠ High
Population
213,164 ✓ Larger
Roseville
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$112,265 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
148,879
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Des Moines, IA
Pros
Homes cost $426k less ($170,700 vs $596,700)
Rent averages $945/mo less ($995 vs $1,940)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Roseville
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Roseville by $49,887/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
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.5%)
Roseville, CA
Pros
Households earn $49,887 more per year on average
69% less violent crime than Des Moines
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.5%)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 31°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $596,700
Higher rents — median is $1,940/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Des Moines
Longer commutes — 27.7 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Des Moines
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Des Moines
Median Home Value
$426k less
$170,700 vs $596,700
Roseville
Median Income
$49,887
$112,265 vs $62,378/yr
Roseville
Violent Crime
69% lower
219.2 vs 703.0 per 100k
Roseville
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.9% unemployment
Roseville
Summer Heat
8.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.6°F vs 85.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Roseville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $170,700 ✓ Lower | $596,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,940⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,378 | $112,265 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 27.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% | 19.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 149⚠ High | 68 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 95.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Des Moines Independent Comm School District | Roseville City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.9°F | 55.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.6°F | 93.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.5" | 20.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 213,164 ✓ Larger | 148,879 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 39.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% | 68.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.2% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 17.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Des Moines's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Roseville's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Des Moines is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Roseville leads 16 of 23 categories. Des Moines wins 7 and Roseville wins 16. 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 Roseville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($170,700 vs $596,700 median home), income ($62,378 vs $112,265), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Des Moines, IA and Roseville, CA are about 1,469 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.