2025 Compare Cities Education:
Des Moines, IA vs Vista, CA

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Highlights
- Vista spends 14.4% more per student than Des Moines.
- The Student Teacher Ratio is 45.8% higher in Vista than in Des Moines. (lower means fewer students in each classroom).
- Vista had 6.7% fewer residents who had graduated High School compared to Des Moines
 Des Moines, IAVista, CAUnited States
 Expend. per Student  Unlock$16,358$15,905
 Educ. Expend. per Student$11,894  Unlock$13,142
 Instr. Expend. per Student  Unlock$8,084$7,999
 Pupil/Teacher Ratio15.53  Unlock16.23
 Students per Librarian  Unlock187444573
 Students per Counselor362  Unlock530
 Grade School Educ.  Unlock12.0%4.8%
 Some High School Educ.6.4%  Unlock6.3%
 High School Educ.  Unlock81.3%88.9%
 Some College Educ.20.2%  Unlock20.0%
 2 yr College Grad.  Unlock8.6%8.7%
 4 yr College Grad.28.1%  Unlock33.7%
 Masters Grad.  Unlock5.9%9.3%
 Professional Degree1.8%  Unlock2.2%
 Doctorate Degree  Unlock1.0%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 Vista    21 Reviews

Over 4 years ago

I bought a house in Vista, CA, and lived there since 2013-2017. My kids and I loved that area (Shadow Ridge). People are friendly, down-to-earth, not snobby. I would  More

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I've lived here 3 years and it has an unbeatable climate. Close to everything you could want. A renovated downtown and access to mass transit. Very nice place, friendly  More

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Truly a hidden gem - I was nervous after first moving since it seemed far from San Diego, but my concerns have been fully alleviated in just a couple months of time in  More

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