Blacksburg, 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.
Blacksburg
72.5
#869 nationally
Des Moines
64.6
#1684 nationally
Blacksburg leads in crime level (2.1 vs 8.1). Blacksburg leads in average commute (14.9 min vs 30.2 min). Des Moines leads in median household income ($81,362 vs $42,012).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Blacksburg, VA | Des Moines, WA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.5 (#869) | 64.6 (#1684) |
| Population | 45,485 | 31,988 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $425,635 | $607,792 |
| Median Household Income | $42,012 | $81,362 |
| Average Commute | 14.9 min | 30.2 min |
| Walk Score | 43 | 41 |
| Crime Level | 2.1 | 8.1 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 119 | 133 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+3.5 | D+51.7 |
C-
72.5 Score
Blacksburg, VA
Small Virginia city with local appeal
Median Home
$425,635
Population
45,485
Crime
Low
Walk Score
43
Northeast
View Blacksburg, 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 →
Try a different matchup
Swap Blacksburg for: