Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Des Moines, IA
VS
Toledo, OH
🏆 Des Moines leads 14 of 23 categories
Des Moines
Iowa
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7
Median Household Income
$62,378 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
185⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
213,164
Toledo
Ohio
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,405
Violent Crime Index
274⚠ High
Population
269,962 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Des Moines, IA
Pros
32% less violent crime than Toledo
Households earn $16,973 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (5.9%)
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
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Toledo
Toledo, OH
Pros
Homes cost $72k less ($98,800 vs $170,700)
Rent averages $141/mo less ($854 vs $995)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.4)
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Des Moines
Cons
Median income trails Des Moines by $16,973/yr
Violent crime (1041.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2732.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 5.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Des Moines
Median Income
$16,973
$62,378 vs $45,405/yr
Des Moines
Violent Crime
32% lower
703.0 vs 1041.1 per 100k
Des Moines
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
5.9% vs 8.2% unemployment
Toledo
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 90.4 vs 92.7 (100 = US avg)
Toledo
Median Home Value
$72k less
$98,800 vs $170,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Toledo, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 | 90.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $170,700 | $98,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 | $854 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,378 ✓ Higher | $45,405 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 19.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High ✓ Safer | 216⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High ✓ Safer | 274⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 149⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% ✓ Higher | 20.2% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 88.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Des Moines Independent Comm School District | Toledo City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.9°F | 33.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.6°F ✓ Warmer | 84.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.5" ✓ Drier | 37.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.5" ✓ Less | 37.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 213,164 | 269,962 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 52.4% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% ✓ More | 23.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Des Moines's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Toledo's 90.4 (US average = 100).
Toledo is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Des Moines leads 14 of 23 categories. Des Moines wins 14 and Toledo wins 9. 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 Toledo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($170,700 vs $98,800 median home), income ($62,378 vs $45,405), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Des Moines, IA and Toledo, OH are about 518 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.