Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anchorage, AK
VS
Davenport, IA
🏆 Davenport leads 14 of 23 categories
Anchorage
Alaska
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,731 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
267⚠ High
Population
290,674 ✓ Larger
Davenport
Iowa
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,890
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
101,448
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Anchorage, AK
Pros
Households earn $35,841 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 67°F vs 84°F
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $363,800
Higher rents — median is $1,405/mo
Violent crime (1014.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Davenport
Davenport, IA
Pros
Homes cost $209k less ($155,100 vs $363,800)
Rent averages $515/mo less ($890 vs $1,405)
43% less violent crime than Anchorage
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Anchorage
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Milder winters — January highs near 31°F vs 21°F
Cons
Median income trails Anchorage by $35,841/yr
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
Anchorage
Median Income
$35,841
$95,731 vs $59,890/yr
Davenport
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Davenport
Violent Crime
43% lower
581.4 vs 1014.8 per 100k
Davenport
Median Home Value
$209k less
$155,100 vs $363,800
Davenport
Summer Heat
16.5°F warmer
July avg high 83.9°F vs 67.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anchorage, AK | Davenport, IA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $363,800⚠ High | $155,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,405⚠ High | $890 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,731 ✓ Higher | $59,890 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.1 min | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% ✓ Higher | 7.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 213⚠ High | 159⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 267⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 28.5% |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 92.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anchorage School District | Davenport Comm School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 20.9°F | 31.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 67.4°F | 83.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 22.6" ✓ Drier | 38.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 36.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,674 ✓ Larger | 101,448 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.8% ✓ Higher | 62.2% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% ✓ More | 21.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anchorage's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Davenport's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Davenport is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Davenport leads 14 of 23 categories. Anchorage wins 9 and Davenport wins 14. 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 Anchorage to Davenport or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($363,800 vs $155,100 median home), income ($95,731 vs $59,890), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anchorage, AK and Davenport, IA are about 2,747 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.