Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Des Moines, IA
VS
Santa Maria, CA
🏆 Des Moines leads 15 of 23 categories
Des Moines
Iowa
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,378
Violent Crime Index
185⚠ High
Population
213,164 ✓ Larger
Santa Maria
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,237 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
109,543
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Des Moines, IA
Pros
Homes cost $267k less ($170,700 vs $438,100)
Rent averages $773/mo less ($995 vs $1,768)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Maria
More college-educated — 28.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
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 Santa Maria by $18,859/yr
Property crime (3126.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Santa Maria, CA
Pros
Households earn $18,859 more per year on average
6% less violent crime than Des Moines
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 31°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 86°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $438,100
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Violent crime (660.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Des Moines
Key Differences at a Glance
Des Moines
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Des Moines
Median Home Value
$267k less
$170,700 vs $438,100
Des Moines
Summer Heat
12.3°F warmer
July avg high 85.6°F vs 73.3°F
Santa Maria
Median Income
$18,859
$81,237 vs $62,378/yr
Santa Maria
Violent Crime
6% lower
660.6 vs 703.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Santa Maria, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $170,700 ✓ Lower | $438,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,378 | $81,237 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 22.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 174⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 149⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C- (62) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% ✓ Higher | 14.5% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 63.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Des Moines Independent Comm School District | Santa Maria-Bonita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.9°F | 64.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.6°F ✓ Warmer | 73.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.5" | 13.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 213,164 ✓ Larger | 109,543 |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 51.2% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | 31.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Des Moines's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Santa Maria's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Des Moines is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Des Moines leads 15 of 23 categories. Des Moines wins 15 and Santa Maria wins 8. 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 Santa Maria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($170,700 vs $438,100 median home), income ($62,378 vs $81,237), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Des Moines, IA and Santa Maria, CA are about 1,519 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.