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
Omaha
Des Moines-West Des Moines
Opportunity
90 · Top 1%
vs85 · Top 3%
Growth
72 · Top 15%
vs71 · Top 16%
Climate
59 · Bottom 21%
vs59 · Bottom 19%
Physical resilience
62 · Top 45%
vs84 · Top 12%
Housing affordability
98 · Top 25%
vs99 · Top 22%
Access
97 · Top 20%
vs95 · Top 27%
Economic stability
91 · Top 6%
vs93 · Top 3%
Measured values
| Metric | Omaha | Des Moines-West Des Moines | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 982,064 | 731,120 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $84,829 | $85,890 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $45,491 | $46,354 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 226/sq mi | 202/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $268,600 | $267,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,192 | $1,150 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 66.2% | 69.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.1% | 3.2% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 1.0% | 0.3% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 39.3% | 39.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 10.0% | 9.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 7,022 | 5,355 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 7.2 | 7.3 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -0.8% | -10.3% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 85°F | 86°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 15°F | 14°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 6 mi | 6 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 22.3 min | 22.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 36.6 | 36.8 | 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
Omaha
Elevated or high exposure: hail, tornado, heat wave.
Des Moines-West Des Moines
Elevated or high exposure: drought, tornado, strong wind.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Omaha
81
Your Score
80
Area Score
Des Moines-West Des Moines
84
Your Score
83
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Omaha, NE-IA Metro Area · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology