2025 Compare Cities Education:
West Des Moines, IA vs Mason City, IA

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Highlights
- Mason City spends 1.4% less per student than West Des Moines.
- The Student Teacher Ratio is 13.6% lower in Mason City than in West Des Moines. (lower means fewer students in each classroom).
- Mason City had 3.9% fewer residents who had graduated High School compared to West Des Moines
 West Des Moines, IAMason City, IAUnited States
 Expend. per Student  Unlock$14,096$15,905
 Educ. Expend. per Student$11,894  Unlock$13,142
 Instr. Expend. per Student  Unlock$8,379$7,999
 Pupil/Teacher Ratio15.53  Unlock16.23
 Students per Librarian  Unlock9934573
 Students per Counselor362  Unlock530
 Grade School Educ.  Unlock1.8%4.8%
 Some High School Educ.2.1%  Unlock6.3%
 High School Educ.  Unlock92.8%88.9%
 Some College Educ.17.1%  Unlock20.0%
 2 yr College Grad.  Unlock16.5%8.7%
 4 yr College Grad.53.7%  Unlock33.7%
 Masters Grad.  Unlock5.3%9.3%
 Professional Degree4.1%  Unlock2.2%
 Doctorate Degree  Unlock0.6%1.5%
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 Mason City    8 Reviews

I am from the area originally and have lived several places. I recently moved back from Arizona. I moved back to help with my elderly parents. If I did not have  More

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Over 13 years ago

Where to begin?? Murder,arson,abductions,beastialty,gang killings,meth labs,pantie thiefs. High utility bills, no jobs, corrupt police, evil judges, minus 40 below wind  More

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Over 14 years ago

Unless you have a tie to Mason City, such as family, don't even consider this desolate town. The population is declining rapidly for a reason. You are on an island,  More

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