Is Des Moines cheaper than Dallas?

Yes. Typical rent in Des Moines is $1,091 a month versus $1,931 in Dallas — 44% cheaper. Median household income is $72,446 in Des Moines compared with $63,985 in Dallas, so Des Moines has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Des Moines or Dallas?

Des Moines is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 71 versus 109 in Dallas — 35% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Des Moines or Dallas?

School composites are close: A- in Des Moines and A- in Dallas. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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City comparison

Des Moines, IA vs Dallas, TX

Des Moines, IA versus Dallas, TX is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,091 a month in Des Moines and $1,931 in Dallas, and median household income lands at $72,446 versus $63,985. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Des Moines takes affordability, job market, safety, and weather. The widest gap is rent, where Des Moines leads by 44% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Des Moines can feel further apart than Des Moines and Dallas do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Des Moines and Dallas reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Des Moines report Full Dallas report

Des Moines, IA

Rent: $1,091/mo
Median income: $72,446
Crime index: 71
Schools: A-
Weather: 86°F

Dallas, TX

Rent: $1,931/mo
Median income: $63,985
Crime index: 109
Schools: A-
Weather: 92°F

Rent

44% cheaper

Des Moines rent is 44% cheaper than Dallas

Des Moines

Winner

$1,091/mo

Dallas

$1,931/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,091 a month in Des Moines versus $1,931 in Dallas, so Des Moines is 44% cheaper. That's roughly $840/month back in your pocket — $10,080/year. Over five years that's $50,400 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Dallas, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Des Moines is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Median income

13% higher

Des Moines's median income is 13% higher than Dallas

Des Moines

Winner

$72,446

Dallas

$63,985

What this means for your life

Median household income is $72,446 in Des Moines versus $63,985 in Dallas, so typical pay runs 13% higher in Des Moines — about $8,461 more household income a year. Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Des Moines is the stronger labor market on paper. Dallas can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.

Crime index

35% lower crime

Des Moines's crime index is 35% lower than Dallas

Des Moines

Winner

71 (100 = avg)

Dallas

109 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Des Moines's crime index is 71 versus 109 in Dallas (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 35% lower in Des Moines. That gap is meaningful day-to-day — it affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Des Moines is the easier city. Dallas can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

Neck and neck

Des Moines and Dallas are about even on school scores.

Des Moines

A- · 84/100

Dallas

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Des Moines, A- in Dallas). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

33% more comfortable

Des Moines weather is 33% more comfortable than Dallas

Des Moines

Winner

86°F typical

Dallas

92°F typical

What this means for your life

Des Moines scores 33% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 86°F in Des Moines and 92°F in Dallas. Des Moines reads as hot, long summers; Dallas reads as hot, long summers. Climate affects quality of life more than most people anticipate when planning a move. Consider how much time you spend outdoors and whether extreme heat or cold impacts your mood or productivity. Des Moines is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Dallas can still be right if you love that climate on purpose — beach heat, dry heat, or a real winter — but you cannot return a city's weather.

Fit check

Who should choose Des Moines

Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access

Des Moines is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 44% cheaper here at about $1,091 a month. Choose Des Moines if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 13% higher ($72,446), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 86°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Des Moines is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 35% lower than Dallas (71 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.

Open the Des Moines report →

Fit check

Who should choose Dallas

People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Dallas

On these five categories Des Moines takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Dallas because the stats are kinder — they are not. Choose Dallas only if a job offer, family, a specific neighborhood, or a life you already started there outweighs the box score. Plenty of good moves ignore the aggregate; just do it on purpose.

Open the Dallas report →

Bottom line

Des Moines vs Dallas, called

If cost of living is your priority, Des Moines is the clear choice.

If safety matters more to you, Des Moines pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Des Moines offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Des Moines vs Dallas FAQ

Is Des Moines cheaper than Dallas?: Yes. Typical rent in Des Moines is $1,091 a month versus $1,931 in Dallas — 44% cheaper. Median household income is $72,446 in Des Moines compared with $63,985 in Dallas, so Des Moines has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Des Moines or Dallas?: Des Moines is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 71 versus 109 in Dallas — 35% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Des Moines or Dallas?: School composites are close: A- in Des Moines and A- in Dallas. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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