Residential comparison · 13 facts
Iowa City, IA vs West Des Moines, IA
Compare the housing, tax, cost, income, safety, school, and climate facts that are available for both places. The table shows the numbers without declaring one city universally better.
A household earning $85,000 in Iowa City needs about $89,500 in West Des Moines to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from West Des Moines, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $80,500 in Iowa City.
A few differences
- West Des Moines is higher on median household income ($86,594 vs $58,546).
- Iowa City is lower on cost of living index (85 vs 88).
- Iowa City is lower on 2-bedroom rent ($1,120/mo vs $1,239/mo).
Iowa City vs West Des Moines · facet by facet
| Facet | Iowa City, IA | West Des Moines, IA |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $285,900 | $309,000 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $1,120/mo | $1,239/mo |
| Property tax rate | 1.5% | 1.5% |
| State & local income tax | 5.3% | 5.3% |
| Sales tax | 6.9% | 6.9% |
| Cost of living index | 85 | 88 |
| Groceries index | 94 | 94 |
| Utilities | $150/mo | $150/mo |
| Median household income | $58,546 | $86,594 |
| Unemployment rate | 3% | 3% |
| Crime index | 38/100 | 38/100 |
| School rating | 6.5/10 | 6.5/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 200 days | 200 days |
Data: Census ACS 2024 · BLS · Tax Foundation 2024 brackets · HUD/Zillow · NOAA 1991–2020 · FEMA NRI · Values are shown as reported; no universal winner is implied.
Full profiles: Iowa City, IA · West Des Moines, IA
Questions & answers
- Is Iowa City cheaper than West Des Moines?
- Iowa City has the lower day-to-day cost index (85 vs 88 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in West Des Moines equals $85,000 in Iowa City?
- A household earning $85,000 in Iowa City needs about $89,500 in West Des Moines to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of West Des Moines lifestyle costs about $80,500 in Iowa City.