Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Des Moines, IA
VS
San Angelo, TX
🏆 San Angelo leads 14 of 22 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 ✓ Larger
San Angelo
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$65,040 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
57 ✓ Safer
Population
99,422
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Des Moines, IA
Pros
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 97°F
More college-educated — 28.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
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 3.2%)
Median income trails San Angelo by $2,662/yr
San Angelo, TX
Pros
69% less violent crime than Des Moines
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (218.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 31°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Households earn $2,662 more per year on average
Cons
Property crime (2486.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
San Angelo
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 92.7 (100 = US avg)
San Angelo
Median Income
$2,662
$65,040 vs $62,378/yr
San Angelo
Violent Crime
69% lower
218.2 vs 703.0 per 100k
San Angelo
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.9% unemployment
San Angelo
Summer Heat
11.8°F warmer
July avg high 97.4°F vs 85.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | San Angelo, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $170,700 ✓ Lower | $171,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,037 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,378 | $65,040 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min | 17.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% ✓ Higher | 7.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 57 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 149⚠ High | 118⚠ 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 | 15.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 86.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Des Moines Independent Comm School District | SAN ANGELO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.9°F | 61.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.6°F | 97.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.5" | 22.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.5" | 1.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 213,164 ✓ Larger | 99,422 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% | 64.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Des Moines's cost of living index is 92.7 vs San Angelo's 90.9 (US average = 100).
San Angelo is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, San Angelo leads 14 of 22 categories. Des Moines wins 8 and San Angelo wins 14. 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 San Angelo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($170,700 vs $171,700 median home), income ($62,378 vs $65,040), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Des Moines, IA and San Angelo, TX are about 796 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.