© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Iowa
Altoona
Population 21,495
© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Iowa
Des Moines
Population 212,421
Altoona, IA vs Des Moines, IA
Side-by-side comparison from the latest government data.
| Metric | Altoona, IA | Des Moines, IA |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 21,495 | 212,421 |
| Median Household Income | $86,114 | $65,932 |
| Median Rent | $1,235/mo | $1,090/mo |
| Median Home Value | $274,600 | $194,700 |
| Cost of Living (US = 100) | 92 | 92 |
| Renters Paying 30%+ of Income | 46.9% | 46.6% |
| Poverty Rate | 8.3% | 15% |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% (county) | 4.2% |
| Violent Crime Rate /100k | 184 | 642 |
| Property Crime Rate /100k | 1,399 | 2,838 |
| Median AQI | 44 | 44 |
| Good AQI Days /yr | 224 | 224 |
| Summer Highs | 84°F | 84°F |
| Winter Lows | 15°F | 17°F |
| Snowfall | 25 in/yr | 37 in/yr |
| Avg Commute | 22.5 min | 19.5 min |
| Hospitals | — | 4 |
| Avg Hospital Rating | — | 2.8 / 5 |
| Students per Teacher | 14.2 | 15.9 |
| College Degree Rate | 33.5% | 29.7% |
| Foreign-Born % | 5% | 14.2% |
| Population Growth (2020–2025) | +15.9% | -0.9% |
Des Moines, IA
Green = clearly better (more than 5% apart). Population, growth, weather, hospital count and foreign-born share aren’t scored.