Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Des Moines, IA
VS
Springfield, MA
🏆 Des Moines leads 17 of 23 categories
Des Moines
Iowa
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,378 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
185⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
213,164 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Massachusetts
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$47,677
Violent Crime Index
235⚠ High
Population
155,305
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Des Moines, IA
Pros
21% less violent crime than Springfield
Households earn $14,701 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (5.9%)
Homes cost $28k less ($170,700 vs $198,500)
More college-educated — 28.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
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
Springfield, MA
Pros
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (891.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Des Moines by $14,701/yr
Property crime (2835.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.7% vs 5.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Des Moines
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Des Moines
Median Income
$14,701
$62,378 vs $47,677/yr
Des Moines
Violent Crime
21% lower
703.0 vs 891.4 per 100k
Des Moines
Median Home Value
$28k less
$170,700 vs $198,500
Des Moines
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
5.9% vs 8.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Springfield, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper | 98.4 |
| Median Home Value | $170,700 ✓ Lower | $198,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,047 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,378 ✓ Higher | $47,677 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 21.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High ✓ Safer | 235⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 149⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Des Moines Independent Comm School District | Springfield |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.9°F | 34.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.6°F ✓ Warmer | 84.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.5" ✓ Drier | 50.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.5" ✓ Less | 51.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 213,164 ✓ Larger | 155,305 |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 47.8% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | 24.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Des Moines's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Springfield's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Des Moines is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Des Moines leads 17 of 23 categories. Des Moines wins 17 and Springfield wins 6. 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($170,700 vs $198,500 median home), income ($62,378 vs $47,677), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Des Moines, IA and Springfield, MA are about 1,082 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.