Arlington, TX vs Des Moines, IA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Arlington
70.7
#1065 nationally
Des Moines
80.8
#61 nationally
Des Moines leads in average commute (19.2 min vs 26.9 min). Arlington leads in median household income ($71,736 vs $60,509). Des Moines leads in walk score (45 vs 38).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Arlington, TX | Des Moines, IA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 70.7 (#1065) | 80.8 (#61) |
| Population | 398,431 | 214,133 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $312,255 | $212,006 |
| Median Household Income | $71,736 | $60,509 |
| Average Commute | 26.9 min | 19.2 min |
| Walk Score | 38 | 45 |
| Crime Level | 13.2 | Moderate |
| School Rating | N/A | 7.2 |
| Cost of Living Index | 101 | 88 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+5.1 | D+10.9 |
C-
70.7 Score
Arlington, TX
Growing Texas city with expanding opportunities
Median Home
$312,255
Population
398,431
Crime
Moderate-High
Walk Score
38
Southwest
View Arlington, TX →
B-
80.8 Score
Des Moines, IA
Insurance capital with surprising vibrancy
Median Home
$212,006
Population
214,133
Crime
Moderate
Schools
B
Midwest
View Des Moines, IA →
Try a different matchup
Swap Arlington for: