2025 Compare Cities Overview:
Champaign, IL vs West Des Moines, IA

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Highlights
Are people in West Des Moines older or younger than people in Champaign?
- The Median Age in West Des Moines is 9.2 years older than in Champaign.

Are housing costs cheaper in West Des Moines or Champaign?
- West Des Moines housing costs are 48.3% more expensive than Champaign housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, West Des Moines or Champaign?
- The average commute for residents of West Des Moines is 1.5 minutes longer than it is for residents of Champaign.

Things to do in Champaign?
Champaign, Illinois is a thriving university town located approximately two hours south of Chicago. It has plenty of recreational facilities ranging from libraries to state parks offering access to Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve or Homer Lake.

Things to do in West Des Moines?
West Des Moines, Iowa is a vibrant city located in the greater Des Moines area. This lively town offers an array of exciting attractions for visitors to explore such as the beautiful Living History Farms or the thrilling Adventureland Amusement Park. Residents here also enjoy plenty of outdoor activities at Raccoon River or Water Works Park. With its excellent school systems, thriving businesses, and wide range of recreational activities, it's no wonder why so many people choose to make West Des Moines their home.

 Champaign, ILWest Des Moines, IAUnited States
 Population  Unlock67,640329,725,481
 Median Income$52,687  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock36.138.4
 Avg. Home Price$190,400  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock3.3%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time15.68  Unlock26.38
Reviews for Champaign    13 Reviews

Over 6 years ago

Pros - close to Chicago, has Parkland community college and lots of places to eat. There is a train station downtown that is really good. Beautiful deciduous trees and  More

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Over 8 years ago

I wonderful city with great  More

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Actually it's barely a nice place to live. The pros: Not terribly expensive - at one point the least expensive place to live in the country among modest sized  More

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Reviews for West Des Moines    4 Reviews

Over 16 years ago

I just moved here from out-of-state a few months ago and have been pleasantly surprised by the broad range of activities and amenities available in this medium sized IA  More

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Over 16 years ago

Am contemplating a move to WDM from the East Coast (NYC). Might there be anyone out there that may have experienced this and could offer guidance or comment. Thanks.   More

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We just moved to West Des Moines and we love it here! We moved here three months ago and every weekend we have been able to do something different and fun. There is  More

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