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Des Moines

#96 in Best Cities for Young Professionals in America
  • B+
    Overall Grade
  • City in Iowa
  • 211 reviews
    B+
    Overall Niche Grade
    How are grades calculated?
    1. Public Schools
      B-
    2. Crime & Safety
      C
    3. Housing
      B-
    4. Nightlife
      A
    5. Good for Families
      B
    6. Diversity
      A
    7. Jobs
      B+
    8. Weather
      B-
    9. Cost of Living
      B+
    10. Health & Fitness
      B
    11. Outdoor Activities
      B
    12. Commute
      A-
    View Full Report Card
    Des Moines is a city in Iowa with a population of 214,778. Des Moines is in Polk County. Living in Des Moines offers residents a dense suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In Des Moines there are a lot of bars, coffee shops, and parks. Many families and young professionals live in Des Moines and residents tend to have moderate political views. The public schools in Des Moines are above average.
    About Des Moines...
    Population
    214,778

    Real Estate

    Median Home Value
    $123,300
    National
    $184,700
    Median Rent
    $797
    National
    $949
    Area Feel
    Dense Suburban
    Rent vs. Own
    • Rent
      40%
    • Own
      60%
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    Des Moines Rankings

    Niche rankings are based on rigorous analysis of key statistics from the U.S. Department of Education and millions of reviews.

    Des Moines Neighborhood Map

    • Public Schools
    • Private Schools
    • Colleges

      Crime & Safety

      Crime & Safety
      C
      Based on violent and property crime rates.
      Violent Crimes
      • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
      National
      • Assault
        456.1
        282.7
      • Murder
        12.9
        6.1
      • Rape
        33.6
        40.7
      • Robbery
        167.5
        135.5
      Property Crimes
      • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
      National
      • Burglary
        1,099.1
        500.1
      • Theft
        2,734.3
        2,042.8
      • Motor Vehicle Theft
        579.9
        284

      Residents

      Diversity
      A
      Based on ethnic and economic diversity.
      Age
      • <10 years
        14%
      • 10-17 years
        10%
      • 18-24 years
        11%
      • 25-34 years
        17%
      • 35-44 years
        13%
      • 45-54 years
        12%
      • 55-64 years
        12%
      • 65+ years
        12%
      Education Levels
      National
      • Master's degree or higher
        8%
        12%
      • Bachelor's degree
        18%
        19%
      • Some college or associate's degree
        31%
        29%
      • High school diploma or equivalent
        30%
        28%
      • Less than high school diploma
        14%
        13%

      Working in Des Moines

      Jobs
      B+
      Based on employment rates, job and business growth, and cost of living.
      Median Household Income
      $49,999
      National
      $55,322
      Search for Jobs in Des Moines
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      Des Moines Reviews

      211 reviews
      All Categories
      I love Des Moines and surrounding communities. Everything you may need is right here ! Family oriented and boredom is rare. DesMoines has so much to offer your life and a great place to raise a family nonmatter your ethnicity. Great schools, great shopping, and all around endless possibilties!
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      Des Moines I a wonderful place to grow, learn, work and raise a family. You will be exposed to a tremendous public school system that actually educates, and a Midwestern work ethic that comes from a rural small town feel. The downtown has been revitalized and the local economy is driven by the banking and insurance industries. Des Moines is the capital city of the state, but is has a small town charm that is hard to beat! I was born and raised here, and wouldn't trade my Iowa upbringing for anything offered anywhere. All of the things that matter to younger people can be attained here. Des Moines is family friendly, the cost of living is low, real estate is not so high as to prevent home ownership, health lifestyles are encouraged, and it is a safe place to live.
      Local activities are way too family focused, there's very little to do in town if you're somewhere between 15-35. The city's leadership thinks "live music" will solve this problem, as if everyone in this age range wants to pay $60 to stand in place for an hour listening to some local indie folk band they've never heard of. Downtown is a confusing mess with all the one way streets all over the place, this is further compounded by the constant detours due to construction all over the place. The bus system sucks too. You need a car in this town, whether you can afford one or not. Also housing shouldn't cost this much in Iowa.