HEAD TO HEAD
Des Moines vs Sioux City
Sioux City leads Des Moines on 3 of 5 factors — but the right pick depends on your priorities.
Des Moines, IA
wins 2 of 5 factors
Sioux City, IA
wins 3 of 5 factors
Match scores, side by side
| Factor | Des Moines | Sioux City |
|---|---|---|
| Affordable to buy | 87 | 92 ◆ |
| Affordable to rent | 84 | 85 ◆ |
| Climate comfort | 43 ◆ | 39 |
| Plenty of sunshine | 45 | 47 ◆ |
| Big-city amenities | 80 ◆ | 28 |
By the numbers
| Figure | Des Moines | Sioux City |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $296K | $225K |
| Typical rent | $1,293/mo | $1,252/mo |
| Average temperature | 10.2°C | 9.6°C |
| Sunshine (solar) | 4.09 kWh/m²/day | 4.16 kWh/m²/day |
| Metro size rank | #84 | #297 |
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.