Compare & match cities
Side-by-side comparisons for any catalog cities, or weighted matching when you know your budget, climate, and priorities — plus curated high-intent pair pages for common relocator searches.
Interactive tool
Pick two or three cities for a metrics table and radar profile. Switch to Find a match for weighted recommendations.
Side-by-side: Des Moines, IA vs Rochester, MN
Figures are for incorporated city limits unless noted. Crime rates are citywide and can hide neighborhood variation — see methodology.
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Rochester, MN | U.S. / catalog avg | Context / gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 213,096 | 123,624 | N/A | City limits only (not metro / MSA) |
| Median household income | $63,966 | $87,767 | $78,538 | U.S. avg · 19% below U.S. avg |
| Median home value | $183,700 | $287,500 | $303,400 | U.S. avg · 39% below U.S. avg · relatively affordable / lower |
| Median rent | $1,054 | $1,316 | $1,348 | U.S. avg · 22% below U.S. avg · relatively affordable / lower |
| Housing cost index | 69 | 96 | 100 | U.S. avg · 100 = U.S. average (ACS home + rent) |
| Unemployment | 3.5% | 3.8% | 4.2% | U.S. rate · county LAUS, not city-only |
| Avg commute | 19 min | 15 min | 25 min | Catalog avg · 24% below catalog avg · relatively affordable / lower |
| Violent crime rate | 712 / 100k | 214.8 / 100k | 559.5 / 100k | Catalog avg · citywide rate — inspect neighborhood / block data |
| Property crime rate | 4090.5 / 100k | 1881.3 / 100k | 3005.3 / 100k | Catalog avg · citywide rate — inspect neighborhood / block data |
| Sunny days | 252 days | 241 days | 268 days | Catalog avg · 6% below catalog avg |
| Summer high | 84°F | 79°F | 87°F | Catalog avg · NOAA normals · nearest station |
| Winter low | 17°F | 10°F | 35°F | Catalog avg · NOAA normals · nearest station |
Profile shape
Normalized 0–100 scores across housing affordability, safety, income, and mild summer climate (higher = relatively more favorable within the MapsToIt catalog). Raw values remain in the table above.
Shareable link: /compare?cities=des-moines-ia,rochester-mn
Want weighted recommendations instead? Switch to Find a match.
Which city comparisons do movers search most?
These 13 static comparison pages lead with a direct answer, a side-by-side metrics table using the same formulas as the tool, and clear “when to pick A vs B” guidance — built for citation and for clicks into full city profiles.
- Austin, TX vs Denver, COTech / lifestyle boomtown tradeoff · housing index 146 vs 162 · homes ~$512,700 vs ~$586,700
- Austin, TX vs Seattle, WATech hub cost swap · housing index 146 vs 224 · homes ~$512,700 vs ~$912,100
- San Francisco, CA vs Austin, TXBay Area exit to lower housing costs · housing index 317 vs 146 · homes ~$1,380,500 vs ~$512,700
- Los Angeles, CA vs Phoenix, AZCalifornia to Sun Belt affordability · housing index 215 vs 117 · homes ~$879,500 vs ~$381,900
- New York, NY vs Chicago, ILLargest U.S. metro cost contrast · housing index 190 vs 103 · homes ~$751,700 vs ~$315,200
- Dallas, TX vs Houston, TXIntra-Texas mega-city choice · housing index 101 vs 90 · homes ~$295,300 vs ~$253,400
- Seattle, WA vs Portland, ORPacific Northwest peer markets · housing index 224 vs 151 · homes ~$912,100 vs ~$557,600
- Nashville, TN vs Atlanta, GASoutheast growth destinations · housing index 118 vs 129 · homes ~$383,100 vs ~$420,600
- Miami, FL vs Tampa, FLFlorida cost and climate tradeoff · housing index 140 vs 120 · homes ~$475,200 vs ~$375,300
- Raleigh, NC vs Charlotte, NCNorth Carolina Triangle vs banking hub · housing index 117 vs 114 · homes ~$377,800 vs ~$351,500
- Houston, TX vs Sugar Land, TXHouston core vs Fort Bend suburb · housing index 90 vs 139 · homes ~$253,400 vs ~$406,600
- Sugar Land, TX vs Pearland, TXHouston suburb housing and commute tradeoff · housing index 139 vs 120 · homes ~$406,600 vs ~$330,900
- Boise, ID vs Meridian, IDBoise metro core vs fastest-growing suburb · housing index 126 vs 144 · homes ~$456,000 vs ~$485,000