Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Davenport, IA
🏆 Davenport leads 16 of 22 categories
Albany
New York
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$54,736
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High
Population
99,692
Davenport
Iowa
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,890 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
101,448 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
More college-educated — 43.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (816.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2848.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.0% vs 5.0%)
Median income trails Davenport by $5,154/yr
Davenport, IA
Pros
Homes cost $58k less ($155,100 vs $213,400)
29% less violent crime than Albany
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (5.0%)
Rent averages $240/mo less ($890 vs $1,130)
Households earn $5,154 more per year on average
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Albany
Cons
Violent crime (581.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3540.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Davenport
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
Davenport
Median Income
$5,154
$59,890 vs $54,736/yr
Davenport
Violent Crime
29% lower
581.4 vs 816.9 per 100k
Davenport
Median Home Value
$58k less
$155,100 vs $213,400
Davenport
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
5.0% vs 8.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Davenport, IA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 | $155,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 | $890 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $59,890 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 7.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 159⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% ✓ Higher | 28.5% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 92.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Davenport Comm School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F ✓ Warmer | 31.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 83.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" | 38.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 36.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 101,448 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 62.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 21.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Davenport's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Davenport is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Davenport leads 16 of 22 categories. Albany wins 6 and Davenport wins 16. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Albany to Davenport or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $155,100 median home), income ($54,736 vs $59,890), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Davenport, IA are about 863 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.