2025 Compare Cities Overview:
West Des Moines, IA vs Champaign, IL

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Highlights
Are people in Champaign older or younger than people in West Des Moines?
- The Median Age in Champaign is 9.2 years younger than in West Des Moines.

Are housing costs cheaper in Champaign or West Des Moines?
- Champaign housing costs are 32.6% less expensive than West Des Moines housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Champaign or West Des Moines?
- The average commute for residents of Champaign is 1.5 minutes shorter than it is for residents of West Des Moines.

Things to do in West Des Moines?
West Des Moines, Iowa is a vibrant city located in the greater Des Moines area. This lively town offers an array of exciting attractions for visitors to explore such as the beautiful Living History Farms or the thrilling Adventureland Amusement Park. Residents here also enjoy plenty of outdoor activities at Raccoon River or Water Works Park. With its excellent school systems, thriving businesses, and wide range of recreational activities, it's no wonder why so many people choose to make West Des Moines their home.

Things to do in Champaign?
Champaign, Illinois is a thriving university town located approximately two hours south of Chicago. It has plenty of recreational facilities ranging from libraries to state parks offering access to Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve or Homer Lake.

 West Des Moines, IAChampaign, ILUnited States
 Population  Unlock88,343329,725,481
 Median Income$76,564  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock26.938.4
 Avg. Home Price$282,300  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock4.9%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time17.17  Unlock26.38
Reviews for West Des Moines    4 Reviews

Over 16 years ago

I just moved here from out-of-state a few months ago and have been pleasantly surprised by the broad range of activities and amenities available in this medium sized IA  More

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Over 16 years ago

Am contemplating a move to WDM from the East Coast (NYC). Might there be anyone out there that may have experienced this and could offer guidance or comment. Thanks.   More

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We just moved to West Des Moines and we love it here! We moved here three months ago and every weekend we have been able to do something different and fun. There is  More

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Reviews for Champaign    13 Reviews

Over 6 years ago

Pros - close to Chicago, has Parkland community college and lots of places to eat. There is a train station downtown that is really good. Beautiful deciduous trees and  More

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Over 8 years ago

I wonderful city with great  More

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Actually it's barely a nice place to live. The pros: Not terribly expensive - at one point the least expensive place to live in the country among modest sized  More

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