same $100k income, fresh start from Hickory
changea dispatch from
des moines
IA
41.59°N
93.62°W
Des Moines is the Iowa State Fair every August (think butter cows, deep-fried everything, and the political circus of every presidential cycle), insurance industry stability, and a downtown that's grown into a genuinely good food and brewery scene. The East Village neighborhood is the cool kid pocket. The whole city is bikeable. Friendly, affordable, and chronically underestimated.
in our guides
the verdict
cheaper each month than Hickory
A near-tie on cost. What separates Des Moines is the life around the numbers.
a quick ledger.
$1,268/mo
12% cheaper than Hickory(vs $1,434/mo)
6%
$125/mo more in state tax than Hickory
vs 4.5% in Hickory
$6,565/mo
$41 more than Hickory
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$300k
12% more expensive than Hickory
vs $268k in Hickory
737k
vs 370k in Hickory
field notes, weather & such.
151
pleasant days a year, in des moines.
Hickory has the edge here, logging 189 pleasant days a year. Bring a real coat. 55 days stay under 20°, well past Hickory's 4.
Nights and weekends fill up faster. 2.4× more on the calendar than Hickory.
55/100
14% lower than Hickory
vs 64/100 in Hickory
Closest outdoor draw: Rock Creek State Park, 40.2 mi.
78/100
11% higher than Hickory
vs 70/100 in Hickory
17
0% fewer than Hickory
vs 0 nonstops in Hickory
if des moines appeals, also worth a look:
