Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Davenport, IA
VS
Des Moines, IA
🏆 Davenport leads 15 of 23 categories
Davenport
Iowa
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,890
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
101,448
Des Moines
Iowa
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7
Median Household Income
$62,378 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
185⚠ High
Population
213,164 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Davenport, IA
Pros
17% less violent crime than Des Moines
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.0%)
Rent averages $105/mo less ($890 vs $995)
Homes cost $16k less ($155,100 vs $170,700)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Des Moines
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
Des Moines, IA
Pros
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Cons
Violent crime (703.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3126.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 5.0%)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Davenport
Key Differences at a Glance
Davenport
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 92.7 (100 = US avg)
Davenport
Violent Crime
17% lower
581.4 vs 703.0 per 100k
Davenport
Median Home Value
$16k less
$155,100 vs $170,700
Davenport
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.9% unemployment
Des Moines
Median Income
$2,488
$62,378 vs $59,890/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Davenport, IA | Des Moines, IA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper | 92.7 |
| Median Home Value | $155,100 ✓ Lower | $170,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $890 ✓ Lower | $995 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,890 | $62,378 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 19.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 10.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 159⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer | 185⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 169⚠ High | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 28.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.0% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Davenport Comm School District | Des Moines Independent Comm School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.0°F ✓ Warmer | 30.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 85.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.8" | 36.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.1" ✓ Less | 36.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,448 | 213,164 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% ✓ Higher | 60.3% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Davenport's cost of living index is 89.3 vs Des Moines's 92.7 (US average = 100).
Davenport is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Davenport leads 15 of 23 categories. Davenport wins 15 and Des Moines wins 8. 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 Davenport to Des Moines or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,100 vs $170,700 median home), income ($59,890 vs $62,378), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Davenport, IA and Des Moines, IA are about 155 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.