Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chico, CA
VS
Davenport, IA
🏆 Chico leads 13 of 23 categories
Chico
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$65,932 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
184⚠ High
Population
102,790 ✓ Larger
Davenport
Iowa
10
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.
Chico, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 31°F
More college-educated — 41.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $6,042 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $427,600
Higher rents — median is $1,360/mo
Violent crime (699.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Davenport
Davenport, IA
Pros
Homes cost $273k less ($155,100 vs $427,600)
Rent averages $470/mo less ($890 vs $1,360)
17% less violent crime than Chico
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (5.0%)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Chico
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 Chico by $6,042/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Chico
Median Income
$6,042
$65,932 vs $59,890/yr
Chico
Summer Heat
11.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 83.9°F
Davenport
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 104.6 (100 = US avg)
Davenport
Violent Crime
17% lower
581.4 vs 699.2 per 100k
Davenport
Median Home Value
$273k less
$155,100 vs $427,600
Davenport
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chico, CA | Davenport, IA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.6⚠ High | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $427,600⚠ High | $155,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,360⚠ High | $890 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,932 ✓ Higher | $59,890 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter | 18.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 7.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer | 159⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 184⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.3% ✓ Higher | 28.5% |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% ✓ Higher | 92.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Inspire School of Arts and Sciences District | Davenport Comm School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.1°F ✓ Warmer | 31.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer | 83.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.3" ✓ Drier | 38.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 36.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,790 ✓ Larger | 101,448 |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.1% | 62.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 21.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chico's cost of living index is 104.6 vs Davenport's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Davenport is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chico leads 13 of 23 categories. Chico wins 13 and Davenport wins 10. 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 Chico to Davenport or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($427,600 vs $155,100 median home), income ($65,932 vs $59,890), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chico, CA and Davenport, IA are about 1,632 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.