Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bakersfield, CA
VS
Davenport, IA
🏆 Davenport leads 13 of 23 categories
Bakersfield
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,827 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
404,321 ✓ Larger
Davenport
Iowa
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,890
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
101,448
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bakersfield, CA
Pros
5% less violent crime than Davenport
Households earn $13,937 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 31°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $320,600
Violent crime (554.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Davenport
Property crime (2469.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Davenport, IA
Pros
Homes cost $166k less ($155,100 vs $320,600)
Rent averages $393/mo less ($890 vs $1,283)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (5.0%)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Bakersfield
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 97°F
Cons
Violent crime (581.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Bakersfield by $13,937/yr
Property crime (3540.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Bakersfield
Median Income
$13,937
$73,827 vs $59,890/yr
Bakersfield
Violent Crime
5% lower
554.6 vs 581.4 per 100k
Bakersfield
Summer Heat
13.5°F warmer
July avg high 97.4°F vs 83.9°F
Davenport
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 102.2 (100 = US avg)
Davenport
Median Home Value
$166k less
$155,100 vs $320,600
Davenport
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
5.0% vs 7.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bakersfield, CA | Davenport, IA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.2⚠ High | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $320,600⚠ High | $155,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,283 | $890 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,827 ✓ Higher | $59,890 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 7.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 159⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (73) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.4:1 | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.3% | 28.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% | 92.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bakersfield City | Davenport Comm School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F ✓ Warmer | 31.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.4°F ✓ Warmer | 83.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.6" ✓ Drier | 38.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 36.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 404,321 ✓ Larger | 101,448 |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.2% | 62.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.8% ✓ More | 21.4% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bakersfield's cost of living index is 102.2 vs Davenport's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Davenport is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Davenport leads 13 of 23 categories. Bakersfield wins 10 and Davenport wins 13. 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 Bakersfield to Davenport or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($320,600 vs $155,100 median home), income ($73,827 vs $59,890), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bakersfield, CA and Davenport, IA are about 1,589 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.