2025 Compare Cities Education:
Independence, MO vs Des Moines, IA

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Highlights
- Des Moines spends 0.3% more per student than Independence.
- The Student Teacher Ratio is 9.4% higher in Des Moines than in Independence. (lower means fewer students in each classroom).
- Des Moines had 3.4% fewer residents who had graduated High School compared to Independence
 Independence, MODes Moines, IAUnited States
 Expend. per Student  Unlock$14,293$15,905
 Educ. Expend. per Student$12,022  Unlock$13,142
 Instr. Expend. per Student  Unlock$7,373$7,999
 Pupil/Teacher Ratio14.19  Unlock16.23
 Students per Librarian  Unlock7994573
 Students per Counselor424  Unlock530
 Grade School Educ.  Unlock6.5%4.8%
 Some High School Educ.7.1%  Unlock6.3%
 High School Educ.  Unlock87.1%88.9%
 Some College Educ.24.7%  Unlock20.0%
 2 yr College Grad.  Unlock9.2%8.7%
 4 yr College Grad.19.9%  Unlock33.7%
 Masters Grad.  Unlock6.2%9.3%
 Professional Degree0.8%  Unlock2.2%
 Doctorate Degree  Unlock0.8%1.5%
Reviews for Independence    10 Reviews

The ice age sent glaciers sweeping south, ending at what is the edge of the Missouri River. Independence, Missouri, has artesian water straight from this glacial melt  More

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Over 11 years ago

I've lived here pretty much all my life, and I have to say, I'm ready to get out. I'm not sure if the crime here has just skyrocketed over recent years, or if I was just  More

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Over 12 years ago

Independence, Missouri is just like any other fairly large, fairly old town. A city approaching 200 years old and having nearly 120,000 residents is going to have both  More

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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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