Des Moines, IA vs Middletown, DE
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.
Des Moines
80.8
#61 nationally
Middletown
70.8
#1059 nationally
Middletown leads in median household income ($104,662 vs $60,509). Des Moines leads in walk score (45 vs 29). Des Moines leads in average commute (19.2 min vs 28.8 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Middletown, DE |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 80.8 (#61) | 70.8 (#1059) |
| Population | 214,133 | 25,022 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $212,006 | $537,638 |
| Median Household Income | $60,509 | $104,662 |
| Average Commute | 19.2 min | 28.8 min |
| Walk Score | 45 | 29 |
| Crime Level | Moderate | 3.4 |
| School Rating | 7.2 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 88 | 117 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+10.9 | D+32.6 |
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 →
C-
70.8 Score
Middletown, DE
Small Delaware city with local appeal
Median Home
$537,638
Population
25,022
Crime
Low
Walk Score
29
Northeast
View Middletown, DE →
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