Des Moines or Omaha: which is better?
US metro area: head-to-head comparison
Des Moines wins on more indicators: 7 of 11 against 3.
- Money: Des Moines 3:1
- Climate and risks: Des Moines 4:2
All indicators weigh the same. This is a score based on data, not advice on where to live: different people have different circumstances.
Des Moines
Indicator
Omaha
Money
Better: Des Moines (3 : 1)Per capita income
higher is better
✗$71,015
20249% lower
✓$78,380
202410% higher
Typical rent
lower is better
✓$1,280
2026-09-308% lower
✗$1,398
2026-09-309% higher
Typical home value
lower is better
✓$292,513
2026-09-305% lower
✗$306,318
2026-09-305% higher
Price level
lower is better
✓91.7 100 = US average
2024almost equal
91.9 100 = US average
2024almost equal
Climate and risks
Better: Des Moines (4 : 2)Air: median AQI
lower is better
✓45 AQI
202410% lower
✗50 AQI
202411% higher
Days with unhealthy air
lower is better
✓0 days per year
2024
✗2 days per year
2024
Hot days (max ≥ +30 °C)
lower is better
✓59 days per year
2016-202520% lower
✗74 days per year
2016-202525% higher
Frost days (min ≤ −10 °C)
lower is better
✗33 days per year
2016-202510% higher
✓30 days per year
2016-20259% lower
Severe frost (min ≤ −20 °C)
lower is better
✗4.8 days per year
2016-202523% higher
✓3.9 days per year
2016-202519% lower
Ice days (max ≤ 0 °C)
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
40 days per year
2016-2025
35 days per year
2016-2025
Heating degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
3,134 °C·days per year
2016-2025
3,063 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Cooling degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
756 °C·days per year
2016-2025
822 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Rainy days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
82 days per year
2016-2025
71 days per year
2016-2025
Snowfall days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
10 days per year
2016-2025
7 days per year
2016-2025
Annual precipitation
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
881 mm per year
2016-2025
747 mm per year
2016-2025
Daylight on December 21
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
9.2 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
15.2 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
66 %
2021-2025
66 %
2021-2025
Muggy days (dew point ≥ +20 °C)
lower is better
✓26 days per year
2021-202510% lower
✗29 days per year
2021-202511% higher
Distance to the sea
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
1,272 km
2006-2025
1,259 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
753,913 people
2024
1,001,010 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: Des Moines, Omaha.