Leander, TX vs West 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.
Leander
75.8
#416 nationally
West Des Moines
77.1
#283 nationally
Leander leads in crime level (1.9 vs 4.5). West Des Moines leads in average commute (17.8 min vs 29.5 min). Leander leads in median household income ($129,684 vs $82,345).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Leander, TX | West Des Moines, IA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 75.8 (#416) | 77.1 (#283) |
| Population | 80,067 | 72,205 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $427,012 | $325,031 |
| Median Household Income | $129,684 | $82,345 |
| Average Commute | 29.5 min | 17.8 min |
| Walk Score | 28 | 34 |
| Crime Level | 1.9 | 4.5 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 115 | 103 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+39.3 | D+10.9 |
C
75.8 Score
Leander, TX
Texas community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$427,012
Population
80,067
Crime
Low
Walk Score
28
Southwest
View Leander, TX →
C+
77.1 Score
West Des Moines, IA
Iowa community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$325,031
Population
72,205
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
34
Midwest
View West Des Moines, IA →
Try a different matchup
Swap Leander for:
Swap West Des Moines for: