01 · the cities
Des Moines
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.
full dispatch→Lansing
Lansing is the Michigan state capital, Michigan State (East Lansing is essentially a continuation), and old auto industry roots that have softened into a quieter mid-sized city. The Grand River curves through downtown. The Capitol building is one of the prettier state capitols you'll see. Cheap, friendly, and a quick drive to Lake Michigan beaches.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$1,268/mo
$1,259/mo
Median home price
Median home price
$300k
$244k
$56k less than Des Moines
State income tax
State income tax
6.0%
4.3%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$6,565/mo
$6,720/mo
Lansing has $155/mo more gross after rent at $100k
Gross left after rent reflects state income tax but not federal, based on $100k salary. Enter your salary to find your ideal city.
03 · the weather
Pleasant days/yr
Pleasant days/yr
151 days
153 days
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
7 days
0 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
55 days
52 days
days below 20°F per year
Des Moines has 7 more days above 95°F each year than Lansing.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
55 / 100
57 / 100
2.0 pts ahead of Des Moines
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
17 routes
6 routes
11 fewer direct routes than Des Moines
Metro size
Metro size
737k metro
473k metro
Des Moines has 2.6x more events per month than Lansing.
the verdict
1
Des Moines
categories won
5
Lansing
categories won
Lansing wins this comparison, leading on money and weather.
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