2025 Compare Cities Education:
Des Moines, IA vs Tucson, AZ

Change Cities
Highlights
- Tucson spends 24.7% less per student than Des Moines.
- The Student Teacher Ratio is 7.3% higher in Tucson than in Des Moines. (lower means fewer students in each classroom).
- Tucson had 0.9% fewer residents who had graduated High School compared to Des Moines
 Des Moines, IATucson, AZUnited States
 Expend. per Student  Unlock$10,756$15,905
 Educ. Expend. per Student$11,894  Unlock$13,142
 Instr. Expend. per Student  Unlock$4,785$7,999
 Pupil/Teacher Ratio15.53  Unlock16.23
 Students per Librarian  Unlock14474573
 Students per Counselor362  Unlock530
 Grade School Educ.  Unlock5.3%4.8%
 Some High School Educ.6.4%  Unlock6.3%
 High School Educ.  Unlock86.3%88.9%
 Some College Educ.20.2%  Unlock20.0%
 2 yr College Grad.  Unlock8.9%8.7%
 4 yr College Grad.28.1%  Unlock33.7%
 Masters Grad.  Unlock8.2%9.3%
 Professional Degree1.8%  Unlock2.2%
 Doctorate Degree  Unlock1.8%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

   |    Reply

Dude · 
Over 5 years ago

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

   |    Reply

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

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Des Moines

Reviews for Tucson    287 Reviews

My wife and I characterize ourselves as a young couple, well educated, with decent positions and we’re Tucson natives. We’ve observed our quality of life from both a  More

   |    Reply

Over 1 years ago

I was reading the reviews for Tucson, and after living there for 6 years, I feel the need to weigh in. There are many pros in Tucson: access to recreational areas,  More

   |    Reply

I spend considerable time in and around Tucson, and I've see it rapidly going "downhill" since 2020. It's definitely not the nice town I remember from when I was a  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Tucson


Premium Subscription
Includes Cost of Living compares for child care, utilities, transportation, health, taxes, housing for home owners vs renters, weather, insurance premiums and so much more.


The premier source for comprehensive city data for over 30 years.

© Best Places. All rights reserved.