Bloomington, IN vs Des Moines, IA
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.
Bloomington
72.1
#923 nationally
Des Moines
80.8
#61 nationally
Des Moines leads in median household income ($60,509 vs $46,543). Des Moines leads in cost of living index (88 vs 102). Bloomington leads in average commute (17.3 min vs 19.2 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Bloomington, IN | Des Moines, IA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.1 (#923) | 80.8 (#61) |
| Population | 78,840 | 214,133 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $319,851 | $212,006 |
| Median Household Income | $46,543 | $60,509 |
| Average Commute | 17.3 min | 19.2 min |
| Walk Score | 43 | 45 |
| Crime Level | 7.9 | Moderate |
| School Rating | N/A | 7.2 |
| Cost of Living Index | 102 | 88 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+27.4 | D+10.9 |
C-
72.1 Score
Bloomington, IN
Indiana community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$319,851
Population
78,840
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
43
Midwest
View Bloomington, IN →
B-
80.8 Score
Des Moines, IA
Insurance capital with surprising vibrancy
Median Home
$212,006
Population
214,133
Crime
Moderate
Schools
B
Midwest
View Des Moines, IA →
Try a different matchup
Swap Bloomington for: