Colorado Springs or Des Moines: which is better?
US metro area: head-to-head comparison
Des Moines wins on more indicators: 7 of 11 against 3.
- Money: Des Moines 0:4
- Climate and risks: tie 3:3
All indicators weigh the same. This is a score based on data, not advice on where to live: different people have different circumstances.
Colorado Springs
Indicator
Des Moines
Money
Better: Des Moines (0 : 4)Per capita income
higher is better
✗$68,989
20243% lower
✓$71,015
20243% higher
Typical rent
lower is better
✗$1,764
2026-09-3038% higher
✓$1,280
2026-09-3027% lower
Typical home value
lower is better
✗$446,711
2026-09-3053% higher
✓$292,513
2026-09-3035% lower
Price level
lower is better
✗100.7 100 = US average
202410% higher
✓91.7 100 = US average
20249% lower
Climate and risks
Tie (3 : 3)Air: median AQI
lower is better
✗49 AQI
20249% higher
✓45 AQI
20248% lower
Days with unhealthy air
lower is better
✗14 days per year
2024
✓0 days per year
2024
Hot days (max ≥ +30 °C)
lower is better
✗62 days per year
2016-20255% higher
✓59 days per year
2016-20255% lower
Frost days (min ≤ −10 °C)
lower is better
✓23 days per year
2016-202530% lower
✗33 days per year
2016-202542% higher
Severe frost (min ≤ −20 °C)
lower is better
✓1.5 days per year
2016-202569% lower
✗4.8 days per year
2016-2025220% higher
Ice days (max ≤ 0 °C)
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
16 days per year
2016-2025
40 days per year
2016-2025
Heating degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
3,006 °C·days per year
2016-2025
3,134 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Cooling degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
428 °C·days per year
2016-2025
756 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Rainy days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
58 days per year
2016-2025
82 days per year
2016-2025
Snowfall days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
14 days per year
2016-2025
10 days per year
2016-2025
Annual precipitation
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
396 mm per year
2016-2025
881 mm per year
2016-2025
Daylight on December 21
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
9.4 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
9.2 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
Daylight on June 21
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
14.9 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
15.2 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
Air humidity
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
47 %
2021-2025
66 %
2021-2025
Muggy days (dew point ≥ +20 °C)
lower is better
✓0 days per year
2021-2025
✗26 days per year
2021-2025
Distance to the sea
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
1,107 km
2006-2025
1,272 km
2006-2025
Earthquakes M4.5+ within 100 km
tie
0.00 per year
2006-2025
0.00 per year
2006-2025
Urban environment
no winnerPopulation
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
777,634 people
2024
753,913 people
2024
A winner is named only for indicators with a known “better / worse” direction. Population and other neutral indicators are shown without a winner. Outdated and missing values are not counted. Details for each place: Colorado Springs, Des Moines.