Des Moines vs Lincoln
The short version
- Overall prices are about the same in both metro areas (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $194,700 in Des Moines and $264,000 in Lincoln.
- Households earn more in Lincoln ($71,867 vs $65,932 median).
- Lincoln has the warmer winter: January highs of 36°F vs 31°F.
- Des Moines gets far more snow: 37 inches a year vs 26.
- Lincoln has more scorching days: 42 a year at 90°F or hotter vs 22.
- Lincoln is growing faster: +3.5% since 2020 vs -0.9%.
Side by side
| Des Moines, IA | Lincoln, NE | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 212,086 | 301,522 |
| Growth since 2020 | -0.9% | +3.5% |
| People per square mile | 2,406 | 2,982 |
| Median age | 34.6 | 33.4 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30% | 42% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $65,932 | $71,867 |
| Median home value | $194,700 | $264,000 |
| Home value to income | 3.0× | 3.7× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,090 | $1,086 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 91.7 | 91.6 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 84.7 | 84.2 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $68,800 | $68,700 |
| Homeowners | 61% | 56% |
| Top state income tax | 3.8% | 4.55% |
| Combined sales tax | 6.94% | 6.98% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 19.5 | 18.4 |
| Work from home | 13% | 11% |
| Take public transit | 1% | 1% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 5.6% | 3.3% |
| Poverty rate | 15% | 12.7% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 31° / 14° | 36° / 14° |
| July high / low | 86° / 66° | 89° / 67° |
| Precipitation per year | 37 in | 29 in |
| Snowfall per year | 37 in | 26 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 22 | 42 |
| Nights below freezing | 128 | 143 |
| Comfortable months | 4 | 2 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively Moderate | Relatively Moderate |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 92.0 | 90.7 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 61% | n/a |
| Home prices, past year | +2.3% | +2.1% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +35.2% | +39.3% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Des Moines: July to October. Lincoln: June and September.
Full monthly tables: Des Moines weather by month and Lincoln weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $68,800 in Des Moines and $68,700 in Lincoln. Moving from Des Moines to Lincoln, you would need about $74,900 to match a $75,000 salary.
Moving between Des Moines and Lincoln
IRS county-to-county migration, 2022 to 2023 tax years, for the counties that contain each city. See where else people move from Des Moines and Lincoln.
Which would you pick?
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