2025 Compare Cities Education:
Mason City, IA vs Des Moines, IA

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Highlights
- Des Moines spends 1.4% more per student than Mason City.
- The Student Teacher Ratio is 15.7% higher in Des Moines than in Mason City. (lower means fewer students in each classroom).
- Des Moines had 6.2% fewer residents who had graduated High School compared to Mason City
 Mason City, IADes Moines, IAUnited States
 Expend. per Student  Unlock$14,293$15,905
 Educ. Expend. per Student$12,699  Unlock$13,142
 Instr. Expend. per Student  Unlock$7,373$7,999
 Pupil/Teacher Ratio13.42  Unlock16.23
 Students per Librarian  Unlock7994573
 Students per Counselor335  Unlock530
 Grade School Educ.  Unlock6.5%4.8%
 Some High School Educ.5.4%  Unlock6.3%
 High School Educ.  Unlock87.1%88.9%
 Some College Educ.20.0%  Unlock20.0%
 2 yr College Grad.  Unlock9.2%8.7%
 4 yr College Grad.20.9%  Unlock33.7%
 Masters Grad.  Unlock6.2%9.3%
 Professional Degree1.5%  Unlock2.2%
 Doctorate Degree  Unlock0.8%1.5%
Reviews for Mason City    8 Reviews

I am from the area originally and have lived several places. I recently moved back from Arizona. I moved back to help with my elderly parents. If I did not have  More

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Over 13 years ago

Where to begin?? Murder,arson,abductions,beastialty,gang killings,meth labs,pantie thiefs. High utility bills, no jobs, corrupt police, evil judges, minus 40 below wind  More

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Over 14 years ago

Unless you have a tie to Mason City, such as family, don't even consider this desolate town. The population is declining rapidly for a reason. You are on an island,  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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