Des Moines, IA vs Urbandale, IA

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

MetricDes Moines, IAUrbandale, IA
Population212,42146,595
Median Household Income$65,932$112,795
Median Rent$1,090/mo$1,211/mo
Median Home Value$194,700$335,500
Cost of Living (US = 100)9292
Renters Paying 30%+ of Income46.6%36.3%
Poverty Rate15%6.8%
Unemployment Rate4.2%3.3%
Violent Crime Rate /100k642122
Property Crime Rate /100k2,838524
Median AQI4444
Good AQI Days /yr224224
Summer Highs84°F83°F
Winter Lows17°F16°F
Snowfall37 in/yr38 in/yr
Avg Commute19.5 min18.9 min
Hospitals4—
Avg Hospital Rating2.8 / 5—
Students per Teacher15.914.6
College Degree Rate29.7%51.2%
Foreign-Born %14.2%9.8%
Population Growth (2020–2025)-0.9%+6.6%

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