Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Des Moines to Los Angeles
The 2024 ACS 5-year data shows Los Angeles has higher median household income ($81,939 vs $65,932) and higher median gross rent ($1,933 vs $1,090) than Des Moines. While LA offers greater income potential, its housing costs consume a larger share of income. Des Moines provides more affordable housing relative to income, with a shorter commute (21 vs 33 minutes). LA’s simplified state income tax reference of 9.30% applies in the calculator, though Des Moines’ state tax is excluded per profile constraints. The trade-off centers on income gains versus housing affordability and commute time, with no universal winner implied.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Los Angeles → Des MoinesMoving from Des Moines to Los Angeles
Median Rent Impact
+$843/mo
Moving to Los Angeles costs ~$10,116 more/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
+9.3%
~$9,300 more state tax on a $100k salary in California.
Daily Commute Difference
+12 min / day
Difference of ~100 hours per year spent commuting based on 2024 ACS midpoint averages.
Your move
Compare the life behind the offer.
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Search all 32,330 U.S. Census places directly below.Instant results use official 2024 ACS place data. Places with incomplete required signals remain visible in search but cannot be selected.
Directional estimate using ACS citywide benchmarks. Verified profiles may include a simplified state-tax reference; automatically added profiles exclude state tax until an official reference is approved. Exact tax, benefits, debt, housing, insurance, and personal circumstances may materially change the result.
LIVE VERDICTDES → LAX
33/ 100
The offer needs work
The destination absorbs more of the offer.Estimated annual life delta−$8,148after essentials; unverified state tax excluded
Best gainA large labor market with a household-income benchmark above New York's
Watch closelyA $921,200 ownership benchmark and a conservative marginal California tax reference
The short answer
In the uniform one-person renting baseline, Des Moines is about $10,116 lower per year. This is not a verdict by itself: replace city medians with the actual offer, address, household, benefits, insurance, and tax details before deciding.
Des Moines household income$65,932
Los Angeles household income$81,939
Des Moines gross rent$1,090
Los Angeles gross rent$1,933
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Des Moines | Los Angeles |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 212,421 | 3,857,263 |
| Median household income | $65,932 | $81,939 |
| Median gross rent | $1,090 | $1,933 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $194,700 | $921,200 |
| State-tax treatment | Excluded | 9.3% simplified |
Time and daily routine
The commute-time distribution produces a weighted one-way estimate of about 21 minutes in Des Moines and 33 minutes in Los Angeles. This citywide estimate cannot capture a specific route, remote-work schedule, or transit choice, so the calculator converts it into an explicit time difference instead of hiding it in a subjective lifestyle score.
Decision checklist
- Median household income
- Median gross rent
- One-way commute time
- State income tax reference in calculator
What each city wins
Des Moines
Rent-to-income ratio is favorable at ~20%.. Watch lower home values may reflect older housing stock or limited new construction..
Los Angeles
A large labor market with a household-income benchmark above New York's. Watch a $921,200 ownership benchmark and a conservative marginal california tax reference.
Frequently asked questions
How does rent affordability compare between the two cities?
Des Moines’ median gross rent is $1,090 versus Los Angeles’ $1,933, making housing significantly more affordable in Des Moines relative to local incomes despite lower median household earnings.
What is the trade-off between income and commute in these cities?
Los Angeles offers a higher median household income ($81,939 vs $65,932) but requires a longer average commute (33 vs 21 minutes), presenting a choice between earning potential and time spent traveling.
Source boundary: Core figures come from the 2024 ACS five-year tables linked on each city profile. Commute is derived from B08303 midpoint weighting. A state-tax value without an approved official reference is excluded and disclosed. This comparison becomes index-eligible only after its unique analysis clears the content quality gate.