Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charlotte, NC
VS
Davenport, IA
🏆 Davenport leads 13 of 23 categories
Charlotte
North Carolina
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0
Median Household Income
$74,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
193⚠ High
Population
875,045 ✓ Larger
Davenport
Iowa
13
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.
Charlotte, NC
Pros
Households earn $14,180 more per year on average
More college-educated — 46.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 31°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $312,800
Higher rents — median is $1,399/mo
Violent crime (733.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3705.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Davenport, IA
Pros
Homes cost $158k less ($155,100 vs $312,800)
Rent averages $509/mo less ($890 vs $1,399)
21% less violent crime than Charlotte
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Charlotte
Cons
Violent crime (581.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Charlotte by $14,180/yr
Property crime (3540.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Charlotte
Median Income
$14,180
$74,070 vs $59,890/yr
Charlotte
Summer Heat
6.4°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 83.9°F
Davenport
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 97.0 (100 = US avg)
Davenport
Violent Crime
21% lower
581.4 vs 733.2 per 100k
Davenport
Median Home Value
$158k less
$155,100 vs $312,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charlotte, NC | Davenport, IA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.0 | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $312,800⚠ High | $155,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,399⚠ High | $890 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,070 ✓ Higher | $59,890 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 7.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High | 159⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 193⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.6% ✓ Higher | 28.5% |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% | 92.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | Davenport Comm School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 52.3°F ✓ Warmer | 31.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 83.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.8" | 38.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.5" ✓ Less | 36.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 875,045 ✓ Larger | 101,448 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.1% | 62.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 21.4% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charlotte's cost of living index is 97.0 vs Davenport's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Davenport is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Davenport leads 13 of 23 categories. Charlotte 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 Charlotte to Davenport or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,800 vs $155,100 median home), income ($74,070 vs $59,890), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charlotte, NC and Davenport, IA are about 687 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.