Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Des Moines, IA
VS
Sparks, NV
🏆 Des Moines leads 12 of 23 categories
Des Moines
Iowa
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,378
Violent Crime Index
185⚠ High
Population
213,164 ✓ Larger
Sparks
Nevada
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,938 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,025
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Des Moines, IA
Pros
Homes cost $253k less ($170,700 vs $423,500)
Rent averages $531/mo less ($995 vs $1,526)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Sparks
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
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
Median income trails Sparks by $20,560/yr
Property crime (3126.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Sparks, NV
Pros
44% less violent crime than Des Moines
Households earn $20,560 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 31°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $423,500
Higher rents — median is $1,526/mo
Property crime (2583.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Des Moines
Key Differences at a Glance
Des Moines
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 103.2 (100 = US avg)
Des Moines
Median Home Value
$253k less
$170,700 vs $423,500
Sparks
Median Income
$20,560
$82,938 vs $62,378/yr
Sparks
Violent Crime
44% lower
394.4 vs 703.0 per 100k
Sparks
Summer Heat
6.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 85.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Sparks, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper | 103.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $170,700 ✓ Lower | $423,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,378 | $82,938 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 23.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 149⚠ High | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% ✓ Higher | 25.4% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 85.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Des Moines Independent Comm School District | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.9°F | 48.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.6°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.5" | 8.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.5" | 6.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 213,164 ✓ Larger | 108,025 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 59.4% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Des Moines's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Sparks's 103.2 (US average = 100).
Des Moines is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Des Moines leads 12 of 23 categories. Des Moines wins 12 and Sparks wins 11. 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 Sparks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($170,700 vs $423,500 median home), income ($62,378 vs $82,938), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Des Moines, IA and Sparks, NV are about 1,372 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.