HEAD TO HEAD
Des Moines vs Iowa City
Des Moines leads Iowa City on 3 of 5 factors — but the right pick depends on your priorities.
Des Moines, IA
wins 3 of 5 factors
Iowa City, IA
wins 0 of 5 factors
Match scores, side by side
| Factor | Des Moines | Iowa City |
|---|---|---|
| Affordable to buy | 87 | 87 |
| Affordable to rent | 84 ◆ | 80 |
| Climate comfort | 43 | 43 |
| Plenty of sunshine | 45 ◆ | 43 |
| Big-city amenities | 80 ◆ | 39 |
By the numbers
| Figure | Des Moines | Iowa City |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $296K | $302K |
| Typical rent | $1,293/mo | $1,396/mo |
| Average temperature | 10.2°C | 10.2°C |
| Sunshine (solar) | 4.09 kWh/m²/day | 4.03 kWh/m²/day |
| Metro size rank | #84 | #252 |
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.