Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Des Moines, IA
VS
Waco, TX
🏆 Waco leads 12 of 22 categories
Des Moines
Iowa
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7
Median Household Income
$62,378 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
185⚠ High
Population
213,164 ✓ Larger
Waco
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,421
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
140,545
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Des Moines, IA
Pros
Households earn $14,957 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 95°F
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
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.5%)
Waco, TX
Pros
39% less violent crime than Des Moines
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 31°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Median income trails Des Moines by $14,957/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Des Moines
Median Income
$14,957
$62,378 vs $47,421/yr
Waco
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 92.7 (100 = US avg)
Waco
Violent Crime
39% lower
425.9 vs 703.0 per 100k
Waco
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.9% unemployment
Waco
Summer Heat
8.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.5°F vs 85.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Waco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $170,700 ✓ Lower | $174,100 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,038 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,378 ✓ Higher | $47,421 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 149⚠ High | 101⚠ 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 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 85.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Des Moines Independent Comm School District | WACO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.9°F | 58.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.6°F | 94.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.5" ✓ Drier | 38.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 213,164 ✓ Larger | 140,545 |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 47.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 12.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Des Moines's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Waco's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Waco is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Waco leads 12 of 22 categories. Des Moines wins 10 and Waco wins 12. 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 Waco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($170,700 vs $174,100 median home), income ($62,378 vs $47,421), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Des Moines, IA and Waco, TX are about 720 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.