$100k a year, no longer in Houston
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
the monthly cost of moving past Houston
A small premium for Des Moines. Worth it only if the rest of the city earns it back.
a quick ledger.
$1,268/mo
21% cheaper than Houston(vs $1,610/mo)
6%
$500/mo more in state tax than Houston
vs 0% in Houston
$6,565/mo
$158 less than Houston
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$300k
4% cheaper than Houston
vs $311k in Houston
737k
vs 7.5M in Houston
field notes, weather & such.
151
pleasant days a year, in des moines.
Houston actually gets more: 171 pleasant days a year. The trade is winter: 55 days below 20°, vs 1 in Houston.
Noticeably quieter than Houston. About 78% fewer events on a typical month.
55/100
0% lower than Houston
vs 55/100 in Houston
Closest outdoor draw: Rock Creek State Park, 40.2 mi.
78/100
1% higher than Houston
vs 77/100 in Houston
17
90% fewer than Houston
vs 176 nonstops in Houston
in the same ballpark as des moines:
