2025 Compare Cities Education:
Des Moines, IA vs Grand Rapids, MI

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Highlights
- Grand Rapids spends 2.6% more per student than Des Moines.
- The Student Teacher Ratio is 9.5% higher in Grand Rapids than in Des Moines. (lower means fewer students in each classroom).
- Grand Rapids had 1.8% more residents who had graduated High School compared to Des Moines
 Des Moines, IAGrand Rapids, MIUnited States
 Expend. per Student  Unlock$14,664$15,905
 Educ. Expend. per Student$11,894  Unlock$13,142
 Instr. Expend. per Student  Unlock$6,936$7,999
 Pupil/Teacher Ratio15.53  Unlock16.23
 Students per Librarian  Unlock11244573
 Students per Counselor362  Unlock530
 Grade School Educ.  Unlock5.4%4.8%
 Some High School Educ.6.4%  Unlock6.3%
 High School Educ.  Unlock88.7%88.9%
 Some College Educ.20.2%  Unlock20.0%
 2 yr College Grad.  Unlock7.6%8.7%
 4 yr College Grad.28.1%  Unlock33.7%
 Masters Grad.  Unlock9.7%9.3%
 Professional Degree1.8%  Unlock2.2%
 Doctorate Degree  Unlock1.4%1.5%
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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Reviews for Grand Rapids    62 Reviews

I've lived in Grand Rapids about 85% of my life and can confidently say it is a great place to live for anyone. I know countless people who dogged the city, moved  More

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Grand Rapids proper - the small city - is fairly OK. Nothing special stands out about it when judged against the nicer areas of the US, but it has some decent dining and  More

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Wow. “bland Rapids and everyone is Smug, uptight and part of the Christian Reformed Church. “ Someone is accurately describing Grand Rapids in 1985. Much has changed  More

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