Des Moines, IA vs Pella, IA
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Jun 2026
Report card
| Category | Des MoinesDes Moines, IA | PellaPella, IA | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Soft | Average | |
| Cost of Living | Same | ||
| Crime | Elevated | Very Safe | |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Great | Great | Same |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | Self-Reliant | Same |
| Strategic | Exposed | Defensible |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
At 2,825 property crimes per 100,000 people, Des Moines, IA records a rate 6.1× higher than Pella, IA, whose figure stands at 460, placing Des Moines in the 90th percentile and Pella in the 9th. Violent crime shows a similar gap: 641 per 100,000 in Des Moines versus 81 in Pella, a 7.9× difference, with Des Moines in the 91st percentile and Pella in the 16th. These 2025 FBI figures also show Des Moines’ violent crime trend as flat while Pella’s is falling.
Population size differs sharply, with 2023 Census figures listing Des Moines at 212,464 residents—20.0× larger than Pella’s 10,624—and population density at 2,410 per square mile versus 1,137, a 2.1× gap. The poverty rate in Des Moines is 14.9%, which is 10.5 points higher than Pella’s 4.4%, putting Des Moines in the 66th percentile and Pella in the 10th. Educational attainment also diverges: 47.8% of Pella adults hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, 18.8 points above Des Moines’ 29.0%, with percentiles of 77 and 42 respectively.
Work-from-home rates differ as well, with 11.4% of Des Moines workers remote versus 6.3% in Pella, a 5.1-point gap. Median household income runs 27% higher in Pella at $81,201 compared to $63,966, and per-capita income is 16% higher there ($42,262 versus $36,459). Average commute times are 19.6 minutes in Des Moines versus 13.4 minutes in Pella, the latter sitting in the 1st percentile. Both cities share an A+ housing affordability grade, and their median rents are nearly identical at $1,054 and $1,041.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Oct 2026.
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Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Pella, IA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 8029th pctl | 9140th pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Des Moines, IA 80; Pella, IA 91; Pella is 14% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $183,70023rd pctl | $259,60045th pctl | Median home value: Des Moines, IA $183,700; Pella, IA $259,600; Pella is 41% higher. |
| Median rent | $1,05437th pctl | $1,04136th pctl | About the same |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $63,96636th pctl | $81,20160th pctl | Median household income: Des Moines, IA $63,966; Pella, IA $81,201; Pella is 27% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $35,69023rd pctl | $50,43545th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Des Moines, IA $35,690; Pella, IA $50,435; Pella is 41% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $52,46423rd pctl | $74,14045th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Des Moines, IA $52,464; Pella, IA $74,140; Pella is 41% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Affordable | Affordable | About the same |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Pella needs about
$85,300
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 80 vs 91). Leaves out taxes, groceries and transport. How it works →
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
Jobs & income
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Pella, IA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 3.2%29th pctl | 2.5%8th pctl | Unemployment: Des Moines, IA 3.2%; Pella, IA 2.5%; Des Moines is 0.7 points higher. |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +1.3%59th pctl | +1.4%62nd pctl | About the same |
| Per-capita income | $36,45945th pctl | $42,26262nd pctl | Per-capita income: Des Moines, IA $36,459; Pella, IA $42,262; Pella is 16% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 14.9%66th pctl | 4.4%10th pctl | Poverty rate: Des Moines, IA 14.9%; Pella, IA 4.4%; Des Moines is 10.5 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 19.6 min25th pctl | 13.4 min1st pctl | Average commute: Des Moines, IA 19.6 min; Pella, IA 13.4 min; Des Moines is 6 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 11.4%54th pctl | 6.3%23rd pctl | Work from home: Des Moines, IA 11.4%; Pella, IA 6.3%; Des Moines is 5.1 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Weak | Stable | Economic opportunity: Des Moines, IA D+; Pella, IA C+; Pella is graded higher. |
| Job market | Strong | Strong | About the same |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Pella, IA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 64191st pctl | 8116th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Des Moines, IA 641; Pella, IA 81; Des Moines is 7.9 times higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 2,82590th pctl | 4609th pctl | Property crime per 100k: Des Moines, IA 2,825; Pella, IA 460; Des Moines is 6.1 times higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Flat | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Fair | Very Safe | Crime & safety: Des Moines, IA C-; Pella, IA A+; Pella is graded higher. |
| Traffic safety | SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Pella, IA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ClimateClimate comfort | Comfortable | Comfortable | About the same |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| Tap water | Clean | Clean | About the same |
| Power grid | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomesteadingHomesteading potential | Prime | Prime | About the same |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | High-Risk | Resilient | National disaster risk: Des Moines, IA F; Pella, IA B; Pella is graded higher. |
4 rows not shown (data not available)
4 rows not shown: air quality isn't available for Pella, IA; broadband, walkability and local food access aren't available for either place.
Data: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
Taxes & laws
Both are in Iowa, so state taxes and state laws (homeschooling, firearms, property rights) are the same. See Iowa →
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Pella, IA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 309 mi67th pctl | 275 mi64th pctl | Nearest large city: Des Moines, IA 309 mi; Pella, IA 275 mi; Des Moines is 12% higher. |
| Target proximity | Poor | Good | Target proximity: Des Moines, IA F; Pella, IA A-; Pella is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 476 mi66th pctl | 480 mi67th pctl | About the same |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 803 mi89th pctl | 781 mi88th pctl | About the same |
| StrategicStrategic location | Exposed | Defensible | Strategic location: Des Moines, IA C; Pella, IA B; Pella is graded higher. |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Pella, IA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 212,46496th pctl | 10,62431st pctl | Population: Des Moines, IA 212,464; Pella, IA 10,624; Des Moines is 20.0 times larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 2,41069th pctl | 1,13732nd pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Des Moines, IA 2,410; Pella, IA 1,137; Des Moines is 2.1 times higher. |
| Median age | 34.623rd pctl | 35.126th pctl | About the same |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.0%42nd pctl | 47.8%77th pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Des Moines, IA 29.0%; Pella, IA 47.8%; Pella is 18.8 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.331st pctl | 2.332nd pctl | About the same |
More about Des Moines's residents · Pella's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
| Measure | Des MoinesDes Moines, IA | PellaPella, IA |
|---|---|---|
| Cook PVI | R+2 | R+4 |
Full politics data: Des Moines · Pella
Moving between Des Moines and Pella
- Median rent: $1,054 in Des Moines, $1,041 in Pella
- Median home value: $183,700 in Des Moines, $259,600 in Pella
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 80 in Des Moines, 91 in Pella
- Median household income: $63,966 in Des Moines, $81,201 in Pella
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $52,464 in Des Moines, $74,140 in Pella
- Unemployment: 3.2% in Des Moines, 2.5% in Pella
- Average commute: 19.6 min in Des Moines, 13.4 min in Pella
- Violent crime per 100k: 641 in Des Moines, 81 in Pella
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More places like Des Moines and Pella
- Data: Cost of living: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
- Data: Jobs & income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
- Data: Safety: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
- Data: Quality of life: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
- Data: Strategic location: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
- Data: People: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area.
Narrative content on this page is AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them.
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