Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Des Moines, IA
VS
West Covina, CA
🏆 West Covina leads 12 of 23 categories
Des Moines
Iowa
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,378
Violent Crime Index
185⚠ High
Population
213,164 ✓ Larger
West Covina
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$96,219 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
63 ✓ Safer
Population
108,173
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Des Moines, IA
Pros
Homes cost $494k less ($170,700 vs $664,500)
Rent averages $1059/mo less ($995 vs $2,054)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than West Covina
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.9%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Cons
Median income trails West Covina by $33,841/yr
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
West Covina, CA
Pros
66% less violent crime than Des Moines
Households earn $33,841 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (239.3 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 31°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $664,500
Higher rents — median is $2,054/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Des Moines
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Des Moines
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Des Moines
Median Home Value
$494k less
$170,700 vs $664,500
Des Moines
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.9% vs 6.7% unemployment
West Covina
Median Income
$33,841
$96,219 vs $62,378/yr
West Covina
Violent Crime
66% lower
239.3 vs 703.0 per 100k
West Covina
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 85.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | West Covina, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $170,700 ✓ Lower | $664,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $2,054⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,378 | $96,219 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% ✓ Higher | 9.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 149⚠ High | 100 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 29.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 86.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Des Moines Independent Comm School District | West Covina Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.9°F | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.6°F | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.5" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 213,164 ✓ Larger | 108,173 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 39.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.2% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Des Moines's cost of living index is 92.7 vs West Covina's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Des Moines is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, West Covina leads 12 of 23 categories. Des Moines wins 11 and West Covina 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 West Covina or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($170,700 vs $664,500 median home), income ($62,378 vs $96,219), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Des Moines, IA and West Covina, CA are about 1,418 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.