Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Des Moines, IA
VS
St. Petersburg, FL
🏆 St. Petersburg leads 16 of 23 categories
Des Moines
Iowa
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,378
Violent Crime Index
185⚠ High
Population
213,164
St. Petersburg
Florida
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$70,333 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
259,343 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Des Moines, IA
Pros
Homes cost $118k less ($170,700 vs $289,000)
Rent averages $415/mo less ($995 vs $1,410)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than St. Petersburg
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
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
Median income trails St. Petersburg by $7,955/yr
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.6%)
St. Petersburg, FL
Pros
12% less violent crime than Des Moines
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 31°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.6%)
Households earn $7,955 more per year on average
More college-educated — 40.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,410/mo
Violent crime (619.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2458.9/100k) 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 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Des Moines
Median Home Value
$118k less
$170,700 vs $289,000
St. Petersburg
Median Income
$7,955
$70,333 vs $62,378/yr
St. Petersburg
Violent Crime
12% lower
619.6 vs 703.0 per 100k
St. Petersburg
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.9% unemployment
St. Petersburg
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 85.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | St. Petersburg, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper | 103.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $170,700 ✓ Lower | $289,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,410⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,378 | $70,333 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 24.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% | 15.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High | 145⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 149⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 40.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 93.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Des Moines Independent Comm School District | PINELLAS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.9°F | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.6°F | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.5" ✓ Drier | 46.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 213,164 | 259,343 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.2% ✓ More | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Des Moines's cost of living index is 92.7 vs St. Petersburg's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Des Moines is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. Petersburg leads 16 of 23 categories. Des Moines wins 7 and St. Petersburg wins 16. 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 St. Petersburg or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($170,700 vs $289,000 median home), income ($62,378 vs $70,333), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Des Moines, IA and St. Petersburg, FL are about 1,137 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.