Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbus, OH
VS
Davenport, IA
🏆 Davenport leads 12 of 23 categories
Columbus
Ohio
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.5
Median Household Income
$62,994 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
902,449 ✓ Larger
Davenport
Iowa
12
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.
Columbus, OH
Pros
25% less violent crime than Davenport
More college-educated — 38.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.5)
Milder winters — January highs near 37°F vs 31°F
Households earn $3,104 more per year on average
Cons
Property crime (2653.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Davenport
Davenport, IA
Pros
Homes cost $57k less ($155,100 vs $212,500)
Rent averages $271/mo less ($890 vs $1,161)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Columbus
Smaller class sizes — 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio
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 Columbus by $3,104/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbus
Median Income
$3,104
$62,994 vs $59,890/yr
Columbus
Violent Crime
25% lower
434.9 vs 581.4 per 100k
Davenport
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 94.5 (100 = US avg)
Davenport
Median Home Value
$57k less
$155,100 vs $212,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbus, OH | Davenport, IA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.5 | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $212,500 | $155,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,161 | $890 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,994 ✓ Higher | $59,890 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 7.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 159⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.3% ✓ Higher | 28.5% |
| High School or Higher | 90.3% | 92.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Columbus City Schools District | Davenport Comm School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.5°F ✓ Warmer | 31.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.0°F ✓ Warmer | 83.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.2" | 38.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" ✓ Less | 36.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 902,449 ✓ Larger | 101,448 |
| Median Age | 32.7 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% | 62.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.9% ✓ More | 21.4% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbus's cost of living index is 94.5 vs Davenport's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Davenport is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Davenport leads 12 of 23 categories. Columbus wins 11 and Davenport wins 12. 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 Columbus to Davenport or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($212,500 vs $155,100 median home), income ($62,994 vs $59,890), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbus, OH and Davenport, IA are about 413 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.