Des Moines, IA vs Norwalk, IA

Side-by-side comparison from the latest government data.

MetricDes Moines, IANorwalk, IA
Population212,42114,183
Median Household Income$65,932$102,722
Median Rent$1,090/mo$838/mo
Median Home Value$194,700$303,100
Cost of Living (US = 100)9292
Renters Paying 30%+ of Income46.6%34.8%
Poverty Rate15%4.2%
Unemployment Rate4.2%3.2% (county)
Violent Crime Rate /100k64250
Property Crime Rate /100k2,838286
Median AQI44—
Good AQI Days /yr224—
Summer Highs84°F84°F
Winter Lows17°F17°F
Snowfall37 in/yr37 in/yr
Avg Commute19.5 min21.6 min
Hospitals4—
Avg Hospital Rating2.8 / 5—
Students per Teacher15.915.8
College Degree Rate29.7%38.8%
Foreign-Born %14.2%1.4%
Population Growth (2020–2025)-0.9%+17.2%

Green = clearly better (more than 5% apart). Population, growth, weather, hospital count and foreign-born share aren’t scored.