2026 Compare Cities Job Market:
Merced, CA vs Des Moines, IA

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Highlights
- Job Growth in Des Moines has been positive.
- Des Moines has 3.4% more unemployment than Merced.
- Des Moines job growth has increased by 0.2% in the past 10 years.
 Merced, CADes Moines, IAUnited States
 Current Unemployment  Unlock5.9%6.0%
 Future Job Growth33.3%  Unlock33.5%
 Recent Job Growth  Unlock-6.0%-6.2%
 3 Yr. Job Growth-4.6%  Unlock-3.6%
 5 Yr. Job Growth  Unlock-1.8%-0.7%
 10 Yr. Job Growth6.0%  Unlock6.3%
Reviews for Merced    44 Reviews

Merced is totally slept on - you want a little bit of everything CA has to offer, at a fraction of the price of other CA cities? Merced is the place to go. The town  More

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Over 6 years ago

Good place to live. More affordable than most of california. The city is growing and there is alot of business and growth here. Moved from the Bay area years ago and  More

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Great place to live. Lots of progress and changes coming to the city. Great place to raise a family. UC Merced is expanding and businesses are investing. Downtown is  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 6 years ago

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

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Over 7 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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