2025 Compare Cities Education:
San Mateo, CA vs Des Moines, IA

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Highlights
- Des Moines spends 28.8% less per student than San Mateo.
- The Student Teacher Ratio is 21.5% lower in Des Moines than in San Mateo. (lower means fewer students in each classroom).
- Des Moines had 5.3% fewer residents who had graduated High School compared to San Mateo
 San Mateo, CADes Moines, IAUnited States
 Expend. per Student  Unlock$14,293$15,905
 Educ. Expend. per Student$15,457  Unlock$13,142
 Instr. Expend. per Student  Unlock$7,373$7,999
 Pupil/Teacher Ratio19.79  Unlock16.23
 Students per Librarian  Unlock7994573
 Students per Counselor431  Unlock530
 Grade School Educ.  Unlock6.5%4.8%
 Some High School Educ.3.2%  Unlock6.3%
 High School Educ.  Unlock87.1%88.9%
 Some College Educ.14.9%  Unlock20.0%
 2 yr College Grad.  Unlock9.2%8.7%
 4 yr College Grad.58.2%  Unlock33.7%
 Masters Grad.  Unlock6.2%9.3%
 Professional Degree3.8%  Unlock2.2%
 Doctorate Degree  Unlock0.8%1.5%
Reviews for San Mateo    12 Reviews

I have lived in San Mateo since 2013. It has seen tremendous growth, lots of new restaurants which have become progressively more high-end though there is ample  More

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I'm a native of California. I have lived in the southern part of the state and the northern part of the state for most of my life. I have spent the last 29 years in  More

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Over 15 years ago

San Mateo has a diverse mix of people, a pleasant climate, a very pleasant downtown park with lots going on, and pretty much whatever you need handy. It's not far to  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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