2026 Compare Cities Education:
Des Moines, IA vs Paducah, KY

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Highlights
- Paducah spends 2.2% less per student than Des Moines.
- The Student Teacher Ratio is 1.2% higher in Paducah than in Des Moines. (lower means fewer students in each classroom).
- Paducah had 4.4% more residents who had graduated High School compared to Des Moines
 Des Moines, IAPaducah, KYUnited States
 Expend. per Student  Unlock$13,985$15,905
 Educ. Expend. per Student$11,894  Unlock$13,142
 Instr. Expend. per Student  Unlock$6,308$7,999
 Pupil/Teacher Ratio15.53  Unlock16.23
 Students per Librarian  Unlock6214573
 Students per Counselor362  Unlock530
 Grade School Educ.  Unlock3.0%4.8%
 Some High School Educ.6.4%  Unlock6.3%
 High School Educ.  Unlock90.9%88.9%
 Some College Educ.20.2%  Unlock20.0%
 2 yr College Grad.  Unlock8.2%8.7%
 4 yr College Grad.28.1%  Unlock33.7%
 Masters Grad.  Unlock7.0%9.3%
 Professional Degree1.8%  Unlock2.2%
 Doctorate Degree  Unlock1.5%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 6 years ago

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

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Over 7 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 Paducah    16 Reviews

Joel · 

I have visited it the 1st time and thought it was a rundown ghetto but the 2nd time I loved  More

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Over 6 years ago

The downtown area is fun and the murals on the floodwall provide an interesting history of the  More

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Over 12 years ago

Move here six years ago, and was very optimistic. I love meeting new people and adventure. Me my husband and two kids moved here from Louisville are. This place is like  More

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