Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Des Moines to New York
The 2024 ACS 5-year data reveals Des Moines has a median household income of $65,932, median gross rent of $1,090, and median home value of $194,700 with a 21-minute commute. New York City shows higher income at $80,483 but substantially higher housing costs: $1,821 median gross rent and $777,600 median home value, paired with a 44-minute commute. While New York offers greater income, Des Moines provides significantly lower housing burdens relative to income, creating a trade-off where Des Moines favors affordability and shorter commutes, whereas New York trades higher earnings for elevated housing expenses and longer travel times. The uniform non-housing baseline of $1,250/month applies equally to both, isolating housing and tax differences as key variables in the comparison.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to New York → Des MoinesMoving from Des Moines to New York
Median Rent Impact
+$731/mo
Moving to New York costs ~$8,772 more/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
+5.5%
~$5,500 more state tax on a $100k salary in New York.
Daily Commute Difference
+23 min / day
Difference of ~192 hours per year spent commuting based on 2024 ACS midpoint averages.
Your move
Compare the life behind the offer.
Adjust the assumptions. Every result updates instantly.
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 → NYC
33/ 100
The offer needs work
The destination absorbs more of the offer.Estimated annual life delta−$2,548after essentials; unverified state tax excluded
Best gainThe deepest employment market and largest-city scale in the reviewed cohort
Watch closelyThe cohort's longest commute estimate plus a separate New York City resident income tax
The short answer
In the uniform one-person renting baseline, Des Moines is about $8,772 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
New York household income$80,483
Des Moines gross rent$1,090
New York gross rent$1,821
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Des Moines | New York |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 212,421 | 8,483,844 |
| Median household income | $65,932 | $80,483 |
| Median gross rent | $1,090 | $1,821 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $194,700 | $777,600 |
| State-tax treatment | Excluded | 5.5% simplified |
Time and daily routine
The commute-time distribution produces a weighted one-way estimate of about 21 minutes in Des Moines and 44 minutes in New York. 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 disparity
- Housing cost relative to earnings
- Commute time duration
- State income tax application
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..
New York
The deepest employment market and largest-city scale in the reviewed cohort. Watch the cohort's longest commute estimate plus a separate new york city resident income tax.
Frequently asked questions
How do housing costs compare between Des Moines and New York City relative to income?
Des Moines median gross rent is $1,090 (20% of median income), while New York City's is $1,821 (27% of median income). Home values show a wider gap: Des Moines at $194,700 (~3x income) versus New York City at $777,600 (~9.7x income), indicating far greater housing affordability in Des Moines.
What is the trade-off between income and commute time in these two cities?
New York City offers $14,551 higher median income than Des Moines but requires 23 additional minutes of daily one-way commute. This trade-off reflects access to higher-paying jobs in NYC versus Des Moines' shorter travel times and lower housing costs, where residents gain time and save on housing despite lower earnings.
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.