Des Moines, WA vs Fairfax, VA
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
64.6
#1684 nationally
Fairfax
70.4
#1102 nationally
Fairfax leads in crime level (2.5 vs 8.1). Fairfax leads in median household income ($128,708 vs $81,362). Fairfax leads in walk score (54 vs 41).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Des Moines, WA | Fairfax, VA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 64.6 (#1684) | 70.4 (#1102) |
| Population | 31,988 | 25,144 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $607,792 | $787,568 |
| Median Household Income | $81,362 | $128,708 |
| Average Commute | 30.2 min | 28.5 min |
| Walk Score | 41 | 54 |
| Crime Level | 8.1 | 2.5 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 133 | 160 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+51.7 | D+35.0 |
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 →
C-
70.4 Score
Fairfax, VA
Small Virginia city with local appeal
Median Home
$787,568
Population
25,144
Crime
Low
Walk Score
54
Northeast
View Fairfax, VA →