Des Moines, WA vs Sanford, ME
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
Sanford
68
#1363 nationally
Sanford leads in crime level (4.3 vs 8.1). Sanford leads in cost of living index (103 vs 133). Des Moines leads in median household income ($81,362 vs $71,848).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Des Moines, WA | Sanford, ME |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 64.6 (#1684) | 68 (#1363) |
| Population | 31,988 | 22,251 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $607,792 | $378,830 |
| Median Household Income | $81,362 | $71,848 |
| Average Commute | 30.2 min | 27.5 min |
| Walk Score | 41 | N/A |
| Crime Level | 8.1 | 4.3 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 133 | 103 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+51.7 | D+10.5 |
Data coverage note: Sanford is missing data for 1 metric that Des Moines has. Scores with less coverage are penalized — see our methodology.
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 →
D+
68 Score
Sanford, ME
Small Maine city with local appeal
Median Home
$378,830
Population
22,251
Crime
Moderate-Low
Median Income
$71,848
Northeast
View Sanford, ME →