2025 Compare Cities Education:
Cary, NC vs Des Moines, IA

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Highlights
- Des Moines spends 23.0% more per student than Cary.
- The Student Teacher Ratio is 2.8% higher in Des Moines than in Cary. (lower means fewer students in each classroom).
- Des Moines had 9.9% fewer residents who had graduated High School compared to Cary
 Cary, NCDes Moines, IAUnited States
 Expend. per Student  Unlock$14,293$15,905
 Educ. Expend. per Student$9,531  Unlock$13,142
 Instr. Expend. per Student  Unlock$7,373$7,999
 Pupil/Teacher Ratio15.11  Unlock16.23
 Students per Librarian  Unlock7994573
 Students per Counselor300  Unlock530
 Grade School Educ.  Unlock6.5%4.8%
 Some High School Educ.2.0%  Unlock6.3%
 High School Educ.  Unlock87.1%88.9%
 Some College Educ.12.2%  Unlock20.0%
 2 yr College Grad.  Unlock9.2%8.7%
 4 yr College Grad.69.5%  Unlock33.7%
 Masters Grad.  Unlock6.2%9.3%
 Professional Degree3.6%  Unlock2.2%
 Doctorate Degree  Unlock0.8%1.5%
Reviews for Cary    63 Reviews

Cary is up-and-coming “cool.” The downtown is revitalized and growing. The town takes urban planning very seriously. The home prices have definitely spiked in the last  More

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Over 8 years ago

I've lived in NY, CT, MA, and in Miami FL. Now here in Cary NC for the past 10 years. For what I want and need at this phase of my life, I really like it here! All the  More

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Over 8 years ago

As a Real Estate Agent, I consider Cary the most central location in the Triangle, it basically takes you twenty minutes to get to Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Hillsborough,   More

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Reviews for Des Moines    53 Reviews

Des Moines is a ok and pretty quiet place but as a teen it could be dramatic because Des Moines do have is fair or violents places to avoid in Des Moines would be the  More

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Dude · 
Over 5 years ago

This city is violent, there are too many gangs especially on the north  More

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Over 6 years ago

Good for the old that like slow pace and cheap buffets. Also good for non-descript mid-westerners that don't like a lot of action. No nightlife or mountains to hike  More

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