Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Birmingham, AL
VS
Davenport, IA
🏆 Davenport leads 16 of 22 categories
Birmingham
Alabama
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6
Median Household Income
$42,464
Violent Crime Index
328⚠ High
Population
200,431 ✓ Larger
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
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Homes cost $32k less ($123,000 vs $155,100)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 31°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
Cons
Median income trails Davenport by $17,426/yr
Violent crime (1246.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4031.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 5.0%)
Davenport, IA
Pros
53% less violent crime than Birmingham
Households earn $17,426 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (5.0%)
Rent averages $105/mo less ($890 vs $995)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
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
Birmingham
Median Home Value
$32k less
$123,000 vs $155,100
Birmingham
Summer Heat
7.1°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 83.9°F
Davenport
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 92.6 (100 = US avg)
Davenport
Median Income
$17,426
$59,890 vs $42,464/yr
Davenport
Violent Crime
53% lower
581.4 vs 1246.6 per 100k
Davenport
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
5.0% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Davenport, IA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $123,000 ✓ Lower | $155,100 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 | $890 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,464 | $59,890 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 7.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 159⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 328⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% ✓ Higher | 28.5% |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% | 92.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Birmingham City | Davenport Comm School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.5°F ✓ Warmer | 31.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 83.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" | 38.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.4" ✓ Less | 36.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,431 ✓ Larger | 101,448 |
| Median Age | 35.9 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.9% | 62.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 21.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% | 16.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Birmingham's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Davenport's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Davenport is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Davenport leads 16 of 22 categories. Birmingham 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 Birmingham to Davenport or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($123,000 vs $155,100 median home), income ($42,464 vs $59,890), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Birmingham, AL and Davenport, IA are about 593 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.