Is Des Moines cheaper than Nashville?

Yes. Typical rent in Des Moines is $1,091 a month versus $1,730 in Nashville — 37% cheaper. Median household income is $72,446 in Des Moines compared with $71,328 in Nashville, so Des Moines has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Des Moines or Nashville?

Des Moines is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 71 versus 140 in Nashville — 49% 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 Nashville?

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

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City comparison

Des Moines, IA vs Nashville, TN

Des Moines, IA versus Nashville, TN 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 $1,730 in Nashville, and median household income lands at $72,446 versus $71,328. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Des Moines takes affordability, job market, and safety, while Nashville takes weather. The widest gap is crime index, where Des Moines leads by 49% — 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 Nashville do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Des Moines and Nashville reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Des Moines report Full Nashville report

Des Moines, IA

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

Nashville, TN

Rent: $1,730/mo
Median income: $71,328
Crime index: 140
Schools: A-
Weather: 79°F

Rent

37% cheaper

Des Moines rent is 37% cheaper than Nashville

Des Moines

Winner

$1,091/mo

Nashville

$1,730/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,091 a month in Des Moines versus $1,730 in Nashville, so Des Moines is 37% cheaper. That's roughly $639/month back in your pocket — $7,668/year. Over five years that's $38,340 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 Nashville, 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

2% higher

Des Moines's median income is 2% higher than Nashville

Des Moines

Winner

$72,446

Nashville

$71,328

What this means for your life

Median household income is $72,446 in Des Moines versus $71,328 in Nashville, so typical pay runs 2% higher in Des Moines — about $1,118 more household income a year. The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.

Crime index

49% lower crime

Des Moines's crime index is 49% lower than Nashville

Des Moines

Winner

71 (100 = avg)

Nashville

140 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Des Moines's crime index is 71 versus 140 in Nashville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 49% 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. Nashville 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 Nashville are about even on school scores.

Des Moines

A- · 84/100

Nashville

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

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

30% more comfortable

Nashville weather is 30% more comfortable than Des Moines

Des Moines

86°F typical

Nashville

Winner

79°F typical

What this means for your life

Nashville scores 30% 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 79°F in Nashville. Des Moines reads as hot, long summers; Nashville reads as warm weather most of the year. 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. Nashville 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

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Des Moines is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 37% 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 city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 2% higher here ($72,446). Start with Des Moines if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

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 49% lower than Nashville (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 Nashville

Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing

Pick Nashville if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (79°F) beat Des Moines on this page's weather index by 30%. Des Moines may pay more or cost less, but Nashville is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Open the Nashville report →

Bottom line

Des Moines vs Nashville, called

If safety is your priority, Des Moines is the clear choice.

If weather matters more to you, Nashville pulls ahead.

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

Common questions

Des Moines vs Nashville FAQ

Is Des Moines cheaper than Nashville?: Yes. Typical rent in Des Moines is $1,091 a month versus $1,730 in Nashville — 37% cheaper. Median household income is $72,446 in Des Moines compared with $71,328 in Nashville, so Des Moines has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Des Moines or Nashville?: Des Moines is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 71 versus 140 in Nashville — 49% 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 Nashville?: School composites are close: A- in Des Moines and A- in Nashville. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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