Arlington, VA vs Des Moines, WA
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.
Arlington
72.2
#917 nationally
Des Moines
64.6
#1684 nationally
Arlington leads in median household income ($137,387 vs $81,362). Arlington leads in walk score (69 vs 41). Des Moines leads in cost of living index (133 vs 151).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Arlington, VA | Des Moines, WA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.2 (#917) | 64.6 (#1684) |
| Population | 238,643 | 31,988 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $815,538 | $607,792 |
| Median Household Income | $137,387 | $81,362 |
| Average Commute | 28.2 min | 30.2 min |
| Walk Score | 69 | 41 |
| Crime Level | Low | 8.1 |
| School Rating | 8.8 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 151 | 133 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+58.6 | D+51.7 |
C-
72.2 Score
Arlington, VA
Urban walkability meets federal opportunity
Median Home
$815,538
Population
238,643
Crime
Low
Schools
A
Southeast
View Arlington, VA →
D
64.6 Score
Des Moines, WA
Small Washington city with local appeal
Median Home
$607,792
Population
31,988
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
41
Pacific
View Des Moines, WA →
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