BestCityFor

Best city for remote work? Des Moines, IA

B
Score
53/100
Rank #80 (top 200 cities)
Data: ACS 2023 (5-year)

For remote work, Des Moines lands closer to the middle of the pack but can shine on broadband subscription alongside typical rent (2br). Overall, it’s a mid-pack option in this dataset (#80 of 200). A common tradeoff is bachelor’s+ rate.

Methodology · Sources · IA rankings

Scope note (city proper)

This page scores the incorporated city limits (Census “Place”), not the metro area. That’s why some cities can look very different vs their surrounding region.

Why Des Moines ranks here

  • Typical rent (2BR): $1,099/mo (24% lower than the national median; better for this metric).
  • Broadband subscription: 88% (3% lower than the national median; worse for this metric).
  • Commute 45+ min share: 5% (53% lower than the national median; better for this metric).

Watch-outs

  • Bachelor’s+ rate: 29% (16% lower than the national median; worse for this metric).
  • Median household income: $63,966 (15% lower than the national median; worse for this metric).

City snapshot

Basic demographics from ACS 2023 (city proper).

Population
212,464
Estimated total population (ACS).
Male vs female
Male 49%Female 51%

Key metrics

Values shown are from ACS 2023. National medians are computed across the ranked city set.

Typical rent (2BR)
$1,099/mo
National median: $1,441/mo
Work-from-home share
11%
National median: 12%
Broadband subscription
88%
National median: 91%
Median household income
$63,966
National median: $75,598
Bachelor’s+ rate
29%
National median: 35%
Commute 45+ min share
5%
National median: 11%

Score breakdown (by category)

Category scores are 0–100 and summarize groups of metrics used in the final score.

City
National median (dataset)
Affordability
Typical 2BR rent and housing pressure.
91/100
Connectivity
Broadband availability as a practical remote-work proxy.
88/100
Workforce
Remote-work adoption and human-capital signals.
20/100
Comfort
Commute friction and climate comfort.
95/100

Education (age 25+)

Share of adults by attainment (ACS).

13%
Less than HS
58%
HS / Some college
20%
Bachelor’s
9%
Advanced

Work style

WFH vs not WFH (ACS).

11%
Work from home
89%
Not WFH

Internet access

Household broadband subscription (ACS).

88%
Broadband
12%
No broadband

Map

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Scorecard breakdown

Bars are rescaled to 0–100 for readability (percentage metrics use their actual percent).

City
National median (dataset)
Typical rent (2BR)
National median $1,441/mo
$1,099/mo
Broadband subscription
National median 91%
88%
Work-from-home share
National median 12%
11%
Median household income
National median $75,598
$63,966
Bachelor’s+ rate
National median 35%
29%
Commute 45+ min share
National median 11%
5%

Similar cities (by score)

#78 St. Louis, MO
53/100
#79 Bakersfield, CA
53/100
#81 Thornton, CO
53/100
#82 Montgomery, AL
53/100

FAQ

›What is Des Moines’s remote work score and rank?
Des Moines, IA scores B (53/100) and ranks #80 out of the top 200 US cities in this dataset.
›Is this based on Des Moines city proper or the metro area?
City proper (incorporated place). This uses Census ‘Place’ boundaries, not the metro area. Metro-level rankings can differ a lot from the city itself.
›What is the population of Des Moines, IA?
Population is about 212,464 (ACS 2023, city proper).
›What is the male vs female split in Des Moines, IA?
About 49% male and 51% female (ACS 2023).
›What is a typical monthly rent in Des Moines, IA?
Typical rent (2BR) is $1,099/mo (national median: $1,441/mo).
›What share of workers work from home in Des Moines, IA?
Work-from-home share is 11% (national median: 12%).
›How common is broadband internet in Des Moines, IA?
Broadband subscription is 88% of households (national median: 91%).
›What does the education mix look like in Des Moines, IA?
Among adults 25+, the shares are roughly: less than HS 13%, HS/some college 58%, bachelor’s 20%, advanced 9%.
›Where does this data come from for Des Moines, IA?
Metrics are from Census ACS 2023 5-year estimates (city proper / incorporated place), with optional NOAA climate normals when available.

Note: Scores are informational and depend on data coverage and methodology. Always validate against your personal constraints (job, neighborhood, commute, safety, schools, healthcare).