Once ranked as the No. 4 best place to live in the United States, Des Moines has fallen back down that ranking. This time, it has been consistently ranked from 19th to 55th on US News & World Report’s 2025-2026 Best Places to Live list.
To create its annual Best Places to Live list, U.S. News selects 150 metropolitan areas in the United States based on quality of life, job market, value of living, and people’s desire to live in the area. I analyzed it. Des Moines’ decline is due, at least in part, to changes in the data that U.S. News uses to create its list.
Iowa ranked 95th as a best place to retire last year, but this year it jumped to 28th.
How did Des Moines perform in the “Best place to live” category?
Des Moines’ overall score is 6.4 out of 10, up from 6.6 last year. Metro’s value index was 7.4 this year and 7.6 last year.
U.S. News, as usual, referred to Iowa as the “Elevated State,” but said Des Moines has a know-your-neighbor feel and is a great place to raise a family. We mentioned cultural events and festivals that appeal to all ages, and of course, the radiating “Iowa is good.”
Des Moines also received a 6.8 quality of life index.
Why has Des Moines fallen so low in the rankings of “best places to live”?
Des Moines has consistently been a great place to live, and home prices remain below the national median. However, its value score has declined since 2018, when it reached 8.5.
This year’s list is the first ever compiled by U.S. News & World Report using city-based data, a spokesperson told the Register. Previous lists used metropolitan area-based data, making direct comparisons difficult. According to U.S. News, some cities saw “significant” changes compared to last year.
Des Moines’ average commute time is 8 minutes shorter than most states, but most transportation is by car. Only 3.8% are by public transport and less than 2.5% by walking. Only 0.5% use bicycles as a means of daily transportation.
Des Moines also ranks lower than similarly sized cities on the College Readiness Index, with a student-to-teacher ratio of 24:1.
Davenport tops Demonese on list of ‘Best Places to Live’
Davenport ranked 43rd on this year’s Best Places to Live list with an overall score of 6.4 out of 10, quality of life of 6.3, and value score of 8, ahead of Des Moines.
The article mentions views of Davenport’s brewery, casino, and of course the river. According to the report, Davenport’s job market is healthy compared to similarly sized metropolitan areas, but college enrollment rates are low and crime rates are high.
However, most of Davenport’s value comes from its housing costs, which compare to median household income and outperform other large cities of its size. The report notes that Davenport and Scott County, where it is located, have an aging population but are experiencing steady growth. Nearby places like Bettendorf also attract many families.
How does Des Moines compare to other cities on U.S. News’ Best Places to Live list?
Des Moines outperformed every city in the top 10 in terms of value except Boise, Idaho, and Huntsville, Alabama. Most cities have similar quality of life scores, suggesting Des Moines’ lower overall score is driven by desirability and the job market.
Here are the top 10 best places to live in the United States this year:
Florida Naples Idaho Boise Colorado Colorado Springs South Carolina Greenville South Carolina Charlotte North Carolina Raleigh North Carolina Huntsville Alabama Virginia Beach Virginia Austin Texas Boulder Colorado Boulder
Last year, Des Moines outperformed seven of the top 10 cities in value ratings. Only Green Bay, Huntsville and Fayetteville received higher ratings.
Why was Des Moines praised in U.S. News’ ranking of “Best Places to Live?”
According to U.S. News, Des Moines was distinguished by elegant Tudor-style homes, new housing developments, unique shops and local restaurants, and of course parks and lakes.
The article also notes that first-timers should be aware that Des Moines is full of some of the nicest people you’ll ever meet.
Victoria Reyna Rodriguez is a general assignment reporter at the Register. Contact her at vreynarodriguez@registermedia.com or follow her on Twitter @VictoriaReynaR.
(This story has been updated to include video.)
