HEAD TO HEAD
Des Moines vs Dubuque
Des Moines leads Dubuque on 3 of 5 factors — but the right pick depends on your priorities.
Des Moines, IA
wins 3 of 5 factors
Dubuque, IA
wins 2 of 5 factors
Match scores, side by side
| Factor | Des Moines | Dubuque |
|---|---|---|
| Affordable to buy | 87 | 89 ◆ |
| Affordable to rent | 84 | 90 ◆ |
| Climate comfort | 43 ◆ | 34 |
| Plenty of sunshine | 45 ◆ | 41 |
| Big-city amenities | 80 ◆ | 4 |
By the numbers
| Figure | Des Moines | Dubuque |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $296K | $279K |
| Typical rent | $1,293/mo | $1,123/mo |
| Average temperature | 10.2°C | 8.6°C |
| Sunshine (solar) | 4.09 kWh/m²/day | 3.93 kWh/m²/day |
| Metro size rank | #84 | #396 |
Home & rent Zillow, May 2026 · climate & sunshine NASA POWER climatology. Scores are normalised 0–100 across all metros; higher is better. A research aid, not advice.