Des Moines, IA vs Farmington Hills, MI
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.
Des Moines
80.8
#61 nationally
Farmington Hills
73.4
#735 nationally
Des Moines leads in walk score (45 vs 25). Farmington Hills leads in median household income ($101,728 vs $60,509). Des Moines leads in average commute (19.2 min vs 25 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Farmington Hills, MI |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 80.8 (#61) | 73.4 (#735) |
| Population | 214,133 | 82,528 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $212,006 | $395,176 |
| Median Household Income | $60,509 | $101,728 |
| Average Commute | 19.2 min | 25 min |
| Walk Score | 45 | 25 |
| Crime Level | Moderate | 5.4 |
| School Rating | 7.2 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 88 | 111 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+10.9 | D+10.6 |
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 →
C
73.4 Score
Farmington Hills, MI
Michigan community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$395,176
Population
82,528
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
25
Midwest
View Farmington Hills, MI →
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