Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Des Moines, IA
VS
San Antonio, TX
🏆 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
San Antonio
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7
Median Household Income
$59,593
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
1,445,662 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Des Moines, IA
Pros
Rent averages $194/mo less ($995 vs $1,189)
Homes cost $27k less ($170,700 vs $198,000)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 94°F
Households earn $2,785 more per year on average
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
San Antonio, TX
Pros
15% less violent crime than Des Moines
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 31°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.7)
Cons
Violent crime (594.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4623.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Des Moines by $2,785/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Des Moines
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 93.7 (100 = US avg)
Des Moines
Median Income
$2,785
$62,378 vs $59,593/yr
Des Moines
Median Home Value
$27k less
$170,700 vs $198,000
San Antonio
Violent Crime
15% lower
594.1 vs 703.0 per 100k
San Antonio
Summer Heat
8.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 85.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | San Antonio, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper | 93.7 |
| Median Home Value | $170,700 ✓ Lower | $198,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,189 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,378 ✓ Higher | $59,593 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 24.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% ✓ Higher | 9.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High ✓ Safer | 182⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer | 220⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% ✓ Higher | 27.7% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 83.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Des Moines Independent Comm School District | NORTHSIDE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.9°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.6°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.5" | 34.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.5" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 213,164 | 1,445,662 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 51.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Des Moines's cost of living index is 92.7 vs San Antonio's 93.7 (US average = 100).
Des Moines is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Des Moines leads 12 of 22 categories. Des Moines wins 12 and San Antonio 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 San Antonio or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($170,700 vs $198,000 median home), income ($62,378 vs $59,593), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Des Moines, IA and San Antonio, TX are about 881 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.