Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carlsbad, CA
VS
Davenport, IA
🏆 Carlsbad leads 15 of 22 categories
Carlsbad
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$134,139 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
114,745 ✓ Larger
Davenport
Iowa
7
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.
Carlsbad, CA
Pros
Households earn $74,249 more per year on average
66% less violent crime than Davenport
More college-educated — 59.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (199.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 31°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 84°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,070,500
Higher rents — median is $2,477/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Davenport
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Davenport, IA
Pros
Homes cost $915k less ($155,100 vs $1,070,500)
Rent averages $1587/mo less ($890 vs $2,477)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Carlsbad
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.0%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Cons
Median income trails Carlsbad by $74,249/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
Carlsbad
Median Income
$74,249
$134,139 vs $59,890/yr
Carlsbad
Violent Crime
66% lower
199.1 vs 581.4 per 100k
Davenport
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Davenport
Median Home Value
$915k less
$155,100 vs $1,070,500
Davenport
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.0% unemployment
Davenport
Summer Heat
9.7°F warmer
July avg high 83.9°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carlsbad, CA | Davenport, IA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,070,500⚠ High | $155,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,477⚠ High | $890 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $134,139 ✓ Higher | $59,890 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 24.8% ✓ Higher | 7.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 159⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 28.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.1% ✓ Higher | 92.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carlsbad Unified | Davenport Comm School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.0°F ✓ Warmer | 31.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 83.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 38.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 36.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,745 ✓ Larger | 101,448 |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 37.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% | 62.2% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 21.4% |
| Over 65 | 17.8% ✓ More | 16.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carlsbad's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Davenport's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Davenport is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Carlsbad leads 15 of 22 categories. Carlsbad wins 15 and Davenport wins 7. 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 Carlsbad to Davenport or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,070,500 vs $155,100 median home), income ($134,139 vs $59,890), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carlsbad, CA and Davenport, IA are about 1,569 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.