2025 Compare Cities Education:
Salem, OR vs Des Moines, IA

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Highlights
- Des Moines spends 16.3% less per student than Salem.
- The Student Teacher Ratio is 15.8% lower in Des Moines than in Salem. (lower means fewer students in each classroom).
- Des Moines had 1.5% fewer residents who had graduated High School compared to Salem
 Salem, ORDes Moines, IAUnited States
 Expend. per Student  Unlock$14,293$15,905
 Educ. Expend. per Student$12,350  Unlock$13,142
 Instr. Expend. per Student  Unlock$7,373$7,999
 Pupil/Teacher Ratio18.44  Unlock16.23
 Students per Librarian  Unlock7994573
 Students per Counselor353  Unlock530
 Grade School Educ.  Unlock6.5%4.8%
 Some High School Educ.6.2%  Unlock6.3%
 High School Educ.  Unlock87.1%88.9%
 Some College Educ.25.8%  Unlock20.0%
 2 yr College Grad.  Unlock9.2%8.7%
 4 yr College Grad.30.0%  Unlock33.7%
 Masters Grad.  Unlock6.2%9.3%
 Professional Degree1.8%  Unlock2.2%
 Doctorate Degree  Unlock0.8%1.5%
Reviews for Salem    37 Reviews

After reading the reviews here, I had to come write my own. The problem I had with most of the reviews is that most were very opinion-based and seemed to assume everyone  More

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Moved here approx. 4 years ago from SW Michigan, but I've lived in 9 other cities & 5 other states. Salem is a very manageable sized city, with tons of parks, diverse  More

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Over 5 years ago

I'm a native 5th generation Oregonian, so bear in mind that I was born with webs between my toes! Anyway, I used to think it rained too much when I was young. Then 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 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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