$100k a year, no longer in Lafayette
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 Lafayette
Des Moines edges out a little pricier. Close enough that the decision rides on the days, not the dollars.
a quick ledger.
$1,268/mo
5% cheaper than Lafayette(vs $1,332/mo)
6%
$250/mo more in state tax than Lafayette
vs 3% in Lafayette
$6,565/mo
$186 less than Lafayette
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$300k
50% more expensive than Lafayette
vs $200k in Lafayette
737k
vs 414k in Lafayette
field notes, weather & such.
151
pleasant days a year, in des moines.
Lafayette actually gets more: 211 pleasant days a year. Bring a real coat. 55 days stay under 20°, well past Lafayette's 0.
9.2× the events of Lafayette, and the calendar shows it.
55/100
28% higher than Lafayette
vs 43/100 in Lafayette
Closest outdoor draw: Rock Creek State Park, 40.2 mi.
78/100
8% lower than Lafayette
vs 85/100 in Lafayette
17
467% more than Lafayette
vs 3 nonstops in Lafayette
if des moines appeals, also worth a look:
