Is Des Moines cheaper than Denver?

Yes. Typical rent in Des Moines is $1,091 a month versus $2,089 in Denver — 48% cheaper. Median household income is $72,446 in Des Moines compared with $85,853 in Denver, so Denver has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Des Moines or Denver?

Des Moines is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 71 versus 137 in Denver — 48% 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 Denver?

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

New search

City comparison

Des Moines, IA vs Denver, CO

Des Moines, IA versus Denver, CO 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 $2,089 in Denver, and median household income lands at $72,446 versus $85,853. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Des Moines takes affordability and safety, while Denver takes job market and weather. The widest gap is rent, where Des Moines leads by 48% — 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 Denver do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Des Moines and Denver reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Des Moines report Full Denver report

Des Moines, IA

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

Denver, CO

Rent: $2,089/mo
Median income: $85,853
Crime index: 137
Schools: A-
Weather: 82°F

Rent

48% cheaper

Des Moines rent is 48% cheaper than Denver

Des Moines

Winner

$1,091/mo

Denver

$2,089/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,091 a month in Des Moines versus $2,089 in Denver, so Des Moines is 48% cheaper. That's roughly $998/month back in your pocket — $11,976/year. Over five years that's $59,880 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 Denver, 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

19% higher

Denver's median income is 19% higher than Des Moines

Des Moines

$72,446

Denver

Winner

$85,853

What this means for your life

Median household income is $85,853 in Denver versus $72,446 in Des Moines, so typical pay runs 19% higher in Denver — about $13,407 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, Denver is the stronger labor market on paper. Des Moines can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.

Crime index

48% lower crime

Des Moines's crime index is 48% lower than Denver

Des Moines

Winner

71 (100 = avg)

Denver

137 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Des Moines's crime index is 71 versus 137 in Denver (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 48% 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. Denver 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 Denver are about even on school scores.

Des Moines

A- · 84/100

Denver

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Des Moines, A- in Denver). 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

17% more comfortable

Denver weather is 17% more comfortable than Des Moines

Des Moines

86°F typical

Denver

Winner

82°F typical

What this means for your life

Denver scores 17% 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 82°F in Denver. Des Moines reads as hot, long summers; Denver 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. Denver is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Des Moines 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

Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy

Des Moines is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 48% 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.

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 48% lower than Denver (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 Denver

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

It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 19% higher ($85,853), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 82°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Open the Denver report →

Bottom line

Des Moines vs Denver, called

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

If the job market matters more to you, Denver pulls ahead.

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

Common questions

Des Moines vs Denver FAQ

Is Des Moines cheaper than Denver?: Yes. Typical rent in Des Moines is $1,091 a month versus $2,089 in Denver — 48% cheaper. Median household income is $72,446 in Des Moines compared with $85,853 in Denver, so Denver has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Des Moines or Denver?: Des Moines is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 71 versus 137 in Denver — 48% 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 Denver?: School composites are close: A- in Des Moines and A- in Denver. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

Ready to move to Des Moines?

Find apartments →Get a mortgage rate →

Next steps