2026 Compare Cities Education:
Portland, TN vs Des Moines, IA

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Highlights
- Des Moines spends 43.0% more per student than Portland.
- The Student Teacher Ratio is 3.5% higher in Des Moines than in Portland. (lower means fewer students in each classroom).
- Des Moines had 2.8% more residents who had graduated High School compared to Portland
 Portland, TNDes Moines, IAUnited States
 Expend. per Student  Unlock$14,293$15,905
 Educ. Expend. per Student$9,369  Unlock$13,142
 Instr. Expend. per Student  Unlock$7,373$7,999
 Pupil/Teacher Ratio15  Unlock16.23
 Students per Librarian  Unlock7994573
 Students per Counselor417  Unlock530
 Grade School Educ.  Unlock6.5%4.8%
 Some High School Educ.10.0%  Unlock6.3%
 High School Educ.  Unlock87.1%88.9%
 Some College Educ.22.5%  Unlock20.0%
 2 yr College Grad.  Unlock9.2%8.7%
 4 yr College Grad.13.6%  Unlock33.7%
 Masters Grad.  Unlock6.2%9.3%
 Professional Degree0.1%  Unlock2.2%
 Doctorate Degree  Unlock0.8%1.5%
Reviews for Portland    2 Reviews

Cindy · 
Over 5 years ago

Moved here from California and absolutely love it here in Portland, TN. So quiet & peaceful. Definitely a country setting. The landscape is beautiful. I frequently see  More

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Over 19 years ago

I moved to Portland 15 years ago in order to educate my children at Highland Elementary and Highland Academy--private schools located in Portland. In the process, I  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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