Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cedar Rapids, IA
VS
Davenport, IA
🏆 Cedar Rapids leads 16 of 22 categories
Cedar Rapids
Iowa
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0
Median Household Income
$66,895 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
69 ✓ Safer
Population
136,929 ✓ Larger
Davenport
Iowa
6
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.
Cedar Rapids, IA
Pros
55% less violent crime than Davenport
Violent crime is well below the national average (261.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (3.9%)
Households earn $7,005 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
More college-educated — 32.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Property crime (2689.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Davenport, IA
Pros
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
Median income trails Cedar Rapids by $7,005/yr
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 3.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cedar Rapids
Median Income
$7,005
$66,895 vs $59,890/yr
Cedar Rapids
Violent Crime
55% lower
261.5 vs 581.4 per 100k
Cedar Rapids
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
3.9% vs 5.0% unemployment
Davenport
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 90.0 (100 = US avg)
Davenport
Median Home Value
$13k less
$155,100 vs $167,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cedar Rapids, IA | Davenport, IA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $167,900 | $155,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $886 ✓ Lower | $890 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,895 ✓ Higher | $59,890 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.8 min ✓ Shorter | 18.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 7.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 93 ✓ Safer | 159⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% ✓ Higher | 28.5% |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% ✓ Higher | 92.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cedar Rapids Comm School District | Davenport Comm School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.9°F | 31.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 83.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" ✓ Drier | 38.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" ✓ Less | 36.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,929 ✓ Larger | 101,448 |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.6% ✓ Higher | 62.2% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% ✓ More | 21.4% |
| Over 65 | 16.2% | 16.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cedar Rapids's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Davenport's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Davenport is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Cedar Rapids leads 16 of 22 categories. Cedar Rapids wins 16 and Davenport wins 6. 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 Cedar Rapids to Davenport or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($167,900 vs $155,100 median home), income ($66,895 vs $59,890), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cedar Rapids, IA and Davenport, IA are about 62 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.