Des Moines, IA vs West Des Moines, IA

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

MetricDes Moines, IAWest Des Moines, IA
Population212,42171,083
Median Household Income$65,932$86,594
Median Rent$1,090/mo$1,237/mo
Median Home Value$194,700$309,000
Cost of Living (US = 100)9292
Renters Paying 30%+ of Income46.6%41.6%
Poverty Rate15%8.4%
Unemployment Rate4.2%3%
Violent Crime Rate /100k642147
Property Crime Rate /100k2,8381,529
Median AQI4444
Good AQI Days /yr224224
Summer Highs84°F84°F
Winter Lows17°F17°F
Snowfall37 in/yr37 in/yr
Avg Commute19.5 min18.3 min
Hospitals4—
Avg Hospital Rating2.8 / 5—
Students per Teacher15.915.3
College Degree Rate29.7%54.9%
Foreign-Born %14.2%10.9%
Population Growth (2020–2025)-0.9%+8.0%

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