2025 Compare Cities Economy:
Des Moines, IA vs West Lafayette, IN

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Highlights
- Household income in West Lafayette, is 51% less than it is in Des Moines and is 140% below the National Average.
- Des Moines unemployment rate is 5.9%.
- West Lafayette unemployment rate is 2.9%.
 Des Moines, IAWest Lafayette, INUnited States
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock2.9%6.0%
 Recent Job Growth  Unlock3.6%1.6%
 Future Job Growth37.4%  Unlock33.5%
 Sales Taxes6.0%  Unlock6.2%
 Income Taxes  Unlock4.3%4.6%
 Income per Cap.$31,276  Unlock$37,638
 Household Income  Unlock$28,744$69,021
 Family Median Income$69,816  Unlock$85,028
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 Est. Households By Income
 Des Moines, IAWest Lafayette, INUnited States
 Income Less Than 15K  Unlock29.5%9.4%
 Income between 15K and 20K4.7%  Unlock3.8%
 Income between 20K and 30K  Unlock13.5%8.1%
 Income between 30K and 40K10.2%  Unlock8.0%
 Income between 40K and 50K  Unlock5.1%7.6%
 Income between 50K and 60K8.2%  Unlock7.2%
 Income between 60K and 75K  Unlock7.0%9.6%
 Income between 75K and 100K14.3%  Unlock12.8%
 Income between 100K and 150K  Unlock8.1%16.3%
 Income between 150K and 200K4.9%  Unlock7.8%
 Income greater than 200K  Unlock6.8%9.5%
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 Population By Occupation
 Des Moines, IAWest Lafayette, INUnited States
 Management, business, finance14.3%  Unlock16.4%
 Engineering, computers, science  Unlock14.0%6.5%
 Community, social services1.6%  Unlock1.8%
 Legal  Unlock0.2%1.2%
 Education, library4.2%  Unlock6.2%
 Arts, design, media, sports, entertainment  Unlock2.4%2.0%
 Healthcare practitioners and technology4.8%  Unlock6.2%
 Healthcare support  Unlock2.0%3.3%
 Firefighters, law enforcement1.5%  Unlock2.1%
 Food preparation, serving  Unlock10.4%5.4%
 Building maintenance4.5%  Unlock3.6%
 Personal care  Unlock5.6%2.6%
 Sales, office, administrative support21.7%  Unlock20.9%
 Farming, fishing, forestry  Unlock0.9%0.6%
 Construction, extraction, maintenance/repair8.0%  Unlock8.1%
 Production, transportation, material moving  Unlock6.1%13.1%
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 West Lafayette    11 Reviews

I am originally from Greencastle, Indiana, a nice friendly rural town and home to DePauw University. Presently, I live in West Lafayette, Indiana, due to my having been  More

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Over 11 years ago

It's a nice small town. It's too bad it's not closer to Indy. I think I would like it here  More

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Over 14 years ago

They have good schools, parks and always have events to  More

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