01 · the cities
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→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→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$1,259/mo
$1,268/mo
Median home price
Median home price
$244k
$300k
$56k more than Lansing
State income tax
State income tax
4.3%
6.0%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$6,720/mo
$6,565/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
153 days
151 days
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
0 days
7 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
52 days
55 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
57 / 100
55 / 100
2.0 pts behind Lansing
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
6 routes
17 routes
11 more direct routes than Lansing
Metro size
Metro size
473k metro
737k metro
Lansing has 2.6x fewer events per month than Des Moines.
the verdict
5
Lansing
categories won
1
Des Moines
categories won
Lansing wins this comparison, leading on money and weather.
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