Des Moines IA vs Great Falls MT — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026
Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)
Des Moines, IA
Iowa · Population: 212,464
- Median HH Income$63,966
- Median Home Price$210,703
- Unemployment5.8%
- Bachelor's+29.0%
Great Falls, MT
Montana · Population: 60,412
- Median HH Income$63,934
- Median Home Price$337,690
- Unemployment3.2%
- Bachelor's+28.3%
Detailed Comparison
Demographics
Population
Des Moines
212,464
Des Moines +
Great Falls
60,412
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Des Moines
N/A
Great Falls
N/A
Median Age
Des Moines
34.6
Des Moines +
Great Falls
39.3
Foreign Born
Des Moines
14.0%
Des Moines +
Great Falls
1.7%
White
Des Moines
66.9%
Great Falls
84.8%
Great Falls +
Black
Des Moines
12.0%
Des Moines +
Great Falls
1.2%
Asian
Des Moines
6.2%
Des Moines +
Great Falls
1.0%
Hispanic
Des Moines
16.0%
Des Moines +
Great Falls
4.9%
Spanish at Home
Des Moines
N/A
Great Falls
N/A
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Great Falls, MT | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 212,464 | 60,412 | Des Moines + |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 39.3 | Des Moines + |
| Foreign Born | 14.0% | 1.7% | Des Moines + |
| White | 66.9% | 84.8% | Great Falls + |
| Black | 12.0% | 1.2% | Des Moines + |
| Asian | 6.2% | 1.0% | Des Moines + |
| Hispanic | 16.0% | 4.9% | Des Moines + |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
Des Moines
$63,966
Des Moines +
Great Falls
$63,934
Per Capita Income
Des Moines
$36,459
Des Moines +
Great Falls
$35,968
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Des Moines
$61,226
Great Falls
$62,117
Great Falls +
Unemployment Rate
Des Moines
5.8%
Great Falls
3.2%
Great Falls +
Poverty Rate
Des Moines
14.9%
Great Falls
14.0%
Great Falls +
Bachelor's Degree+
Des Moines
29.0%
Des Moines +
Great Falls
28.3%
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Great Falls, MT | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $63,966 | $63,934 | Des Moines + |
| Per Capita Income | $36,459 | $35,968 | Des Moines + |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $61,226 | $62,117 | Great Falls + |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8% | 3.2% | Great Falls + |
| Poverty Rate | 14.9% | 14.0% | Great Falls + |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 29.0% | 28.3% | Des Moines + |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Des Moines
$210,703
Des Moines +
Great Falls
$337,690
Homeownership Rate
Des Moines
60.5%
Great Falls
68.4%
Great Falls +
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Great Falls, MT | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $210,703 | $337,690 | Des Moines + |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.5% | 68.4% | Great Falls + |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Des Moines
296
Des Moines +
Great Falls
433
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Des Moines
1452
Des Moines +
Great Falls
1984
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Great Falls, MT | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 296 | 433 | Des Moines + |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 1452 | 1984 | Des Moines + |
Health
Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Des Moines
39.4%
Great Falls
35.8%
Great Falls +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Des Moines
11.8%
Great Falls
10.7%
Great Falls +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Des Moines
19.0%
Des Moines +
Great Falls
19.2%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Des Moines
10.6%
Great Falls
10.0%
Great Falls +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Des Moines
19.8%
Great Falls
19.6%
Great Falls +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Des Moines
16.4%
Great Falls
15.0%
Great Falls +
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Great Falls, MT | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 39.4% | 35.8% | Great Falls + |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 11.8% | 10.7% | Great Falls + |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 19.0% | 19.2% | Des Moines + |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 10.6% | 10.0% | Great Falls + |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 19.8% | 19.6% | Great Falls + |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 16.4% | 15.0% | Great Falls + |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Des Moines
49.9°F
Great Falls
46.9°F
Great Falls +
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Des Moines
35.6 in
Great Falls
14.0 in
Great Falls +
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Great Falls, MT | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 49.9°F | 46.9°F | Great Falls + |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 35.6 in | 14.0 in | Great Falls + |
Air Quality
PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Des Moines
10.2 µg/m³
Great Falls
7.4 µg/m³
Great Falls +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Des Moines
55.0%
Great Falls
75.0%
Great Falls +
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Great Falls, MT | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 10.2 µg/m³ | 7.4 µg/m³ | Great Falls + |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 55.0% | 75.0% | Great Falls + |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Des Moines
21.1 min
Great Falls
16.1 min
Great Falls +
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Great Falls, MT | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 21.1 min | 16.1 min | Great Falls + |
Which City is Right for You?
Des Moines leads in median household income at $63,966, while des Moines offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $210,703. On public safety, Des Moines is safer with a violent crime rate of 296 per 100,000 residents, compared to 433 in Great Falls. Great Falls has a lower unemployment rate at 3.2%, and Great Falls has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.4 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Great Falls scores better with a lower obesity rate of 35.8%.
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