2026 Compare Cities Education:
Paducah, KY vs Des Moines, IA

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Highlights
- Des Moines spends 2.2% more per student than Paducah.
- The Student Teacher Ratio is 1.1% lower in Des Moines than in Paducah. (lower means fewer students in each classroom).
- Des Moines had 4.2% fewer residents who had graduated High School compared to Paducah
 Paducah, KYDes Moines, IAUnited States
 Expend. per Student  Unlock$14,293$15,905
 Educ. Expend. per Student$10,673  Unlock$13,142
 Instr. Expend. per Student  Unlock$7,373$7,999
 Pupil/Teacher Ratio15.71  Unlock16.23
 Students per Librarian  Unlock7994573
 Students per Counselor343  Unlock530
 Grade School Educ.  Unlock6.5%4.8%
 Some High School Educ.6.1%  Unlock6.3%
 High School Educ.  Unlock87.1%88.9%
 Some College Educ.22.6%  Unlock20.0%
 2 yr College Grad.  Unlock9.2%8.7%
 4 yr College Grad.27.4%  Unlock33.7%
 Masters Grad.  Unlock6.2%9.3%
 Professional Degree3.0%  Unlock2.2%
 Doctorate Degree  Unlock0.8%1.5%
Reviews for Paducah    16 Reviews

Joel · 

I have visited it the 1st time and thought it was a rundown ghetto but the 2nd time I loved  More

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Over 6 years ago

The downtown area is fun and the murals on the floodwall provide an interesting history of the  More

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Over 12 years ago

Move here six years ago, and was very optimistic. I love meeting new people and adventure. Me my husband and two kids moved here from Louisville are. This place is like  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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