HEAD TO HEAD
Des Moines vs Indianapolis
Des Moines and Indianapolis split the factors 2–2 — it comes down to which ones you weight.
Des Moines, IA
wins 2 of 5 factors
Indianapolis, IN
wins 2 of 5 factors
Match scores, side by side
| Factor | Des Moines | Indianapolis |
|---|---|---|
| Affordable to buy | 87 | 87 |
| Affordable to rent | 84 ◆ | 74 |
| Climate comfort | 43 | 51 ◆ |
| Plenty of sunshine | 45 ◆ | 43 |
| Big-city amenities | 80 | 92 ◆ |
By the numbers
| Figure | Des Moines | Indianapolis |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $296K | $296K |
| Typical rent | $1,293/mo | $1,553/mo |
| Average temperature | 10.2°C | 11°C |
| Sunshine (solar energy) | 4.09 kWh/m²/day | 4 kWh/m²/day |
| Metro size rank (US) | #84 | #34 |
Home & rent Zillow, May 2026 · climate & sunshine NASA POWER climatology. Scores are normalised 0–100 across all metros; higher is better. A research aid, not advice.