Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Des Moines, IA
VS
West Valley City, UT
🏆 Des Moines leads 13 of 23 categories
Des Moines
Iowa
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,378
Violent Crime Index
185⚠ High
Population
213,164 ✓ Larger
West Valley City
Utah
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.7
Median Household Income
$81,719 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
138,868
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Des Moines, IA
Pros
Homes cost $163k less ($170,700 vs $333,600)
Rent averages $365/mo less ($995 vs $1,360)
More college-educated — 28.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (703.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails West Valley City by $19,341/yr
Property crime (3126.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.0%)
West Valley City, UT
Pros
33% less violent crime than Des Moines
Households earn $19,341 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (4.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 39°F vs 31°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $333,600
Higher rents — median is $1,360/mo
Violent crime (469.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Des Moines
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 96.7 (100 = US avg)
Des Moines
Median Home Value
$163k less
$170,700 vs $333,600
West Valley City
Median Income
$19,341
$81,719 vs $62,378/yr
West Valley City
Violent Crime
33% lower
469.5 vs 703.0 per 100k
West Valley City
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
4.0% vs 5.9% unemployment
West Valley City
Summer Heat
8.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 85.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | West Valley City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper | 96.7 |
| Median Home Value | $170,700 ✓ Lower | $333,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,360⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,378 | $81,719 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 21.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% ✓ Higher | 8.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 149⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C- (73) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% ✓ Higher | 15.8% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 83.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Des Moines Independent Comm School District | Granite District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.9°F | 38.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.6°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.5" | 17.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.5" ✓ Less | 51.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 213,164 ✓ Larger | 138,868 |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 30.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | 31.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% ✓ More | 9.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Des Moines's cost of living index is 92.7 vs West Valley City's 96.7 (US average = 100).
Des Moines is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Des Moines leads 13 of 23 categories. Des Moines wins 13 and West Valley City wins 10. 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 Valley City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($170,700 vs $333,600 median home), income ($62,378 vs $81,719), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Des Moines, IA and West Valley City, UT are about 958 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.