Des Moines-West Des Moines receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Des Moines-West Des Moines
Columbus
Opportunity
86 · Top 3%
vs83 · Top 5%
Growth
74 · Top 13%
vs68 · Top 22%
Climate
59 · Bottom 21%
vs68 · Top 44%
Physical resilience
84 · Top 9%
vs77 · Top 18%
Housing affordability
99 · Top 33%
vs91 · Bottom 39%
Access
95 · Top 17%
vs99 · Top 2%
Economic stability
93 · Top 2%
vs79 · Top 15%
Measured values
| Metric | Des Moines-West Des Moines | Columbus | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 731,120 | 2,175,788 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $85,890 | $81,945 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $46,354 | $44,770 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 202/sq mi | 454/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $267,400 | $300,800 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,150 | $1,274 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 69.5% | 61.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.2% | 3.3% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.3% | 0.1% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 39.7% | 39.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 9.1% | 12.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 5,355 | 13,239 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 7.3 | 6.1 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -10.3% | -16.7% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 86°F | 85°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 14°F | 22°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 36.5" | 41.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 6 mi | 4 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 22.5 min | 25.3 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 36.8 | 36.7 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Des Moines-West Des Moines
Elevated or high exposure: drought, tornado, strong wind.
Columbus
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Des Moines-West Des Moines
84
Your Score
82
Area Score
Columbus
81
Your Score
79
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area · Columbus, OH Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology