Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boston, MA
VS
Davenport, IA
🏆 Davenport leads 14 of 23 categories
Boston
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,212 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
165⚠ High
Population
665,945 ✓ 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.
Boston, MA
Pros
Households earn $29,322 more per year on average
More college-educated — 53.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 37°F vs 31°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $684,900
Higher rents — median is $1,981/mo
Violent crime (627.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Davenport
Davenport, IA
Pros
Homes cost $530k less ($155,100 vs $684,900)
Rent averages $1091/mo less ($890 vs $1,981)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Boston
7% less violent crime than Boston
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.0%)
Cons
Median income trails Boston by $29,322/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
Boston
Median Income
$29,322
$89,212 vs $59,890/yr
Davenport
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Davenport
Violent Crime
7% lower
581.4 vs 627.9 per 100k
Davenport
Median Home Value
$530k less
$155,100 vs $684,900
Davenport
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | Davenport, IA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $684,900⚠ High | $155,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,981⚠ High | $890 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,212 ✓ Higher | $59,890 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.1% ✓ Higher | 7.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer | 159⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 28.5% |
| High School or Higher | 88.4% | 92.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boston | Davenport Comm School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F ✓ Warmer | 31.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 83.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.6" | 38.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 36.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 665,945 ✓ Larger | 101,448 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.8% | 62.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | 21.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boston's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Davenport's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Davenport is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Davenport leads 14 of 23 categories. Boston 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 Boston to Davenport or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($684,900 vs $155,100 median home), income ($89,212 vs $59,890), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boston, MA and Davenport, IA are about 1,006 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.