Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Davenport, IA
VS
Elizabeth, NJ
🏆 Davenport leads 13 of 23 categories
Davenport
Iowa
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,890
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
101,448
Elizabeth
New Jersey
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,939 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,665 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Davenport, IA
Pros
Homes cost $203k less ($155,100 vs $358,400)
Rent averages $500/mo less ($890 vs $1,390)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Elizabeth
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 28.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
30% less violent crime than Davenport
Milder winters — January highs near 40°F vs 31°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $358,400
Higher rents — median is $1,390/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Davenport
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Davenport
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Davenport
Median Home Value
$203k less
$155,100 vs $358,400
Davenport
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.9% unemployment
Elizabeth
Violent Crime
30% lower
408.7 vs 581.4 per 100k
Elizabeth
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 86.9°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Davenport, IA | Elizabeth, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $155,100 ✓ Lower | $358,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $890 ✓ Lower | $1,390⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,890 | $59,939 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 26.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% ✓ Higher | 4.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 159⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 169⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% ✓ Higher | 14.1% |
| High School or Higher | 92.0% ✓ Higher | 74.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Davenport Comm School District | Elizabeth Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.0°F | 40.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.8" ✓ Drier | 46.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.1" | 31.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,448 | 135,665 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 35.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% ✓ Higher | 25.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Davenport's cost of living index is 89.3 vs Elizabeth's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Davenport is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Davenport leads 13 of 23 categories. Davenport wins 13 and Elizabeth 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 Davenport to Elizabeth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,100 vs $358,400 median home), income ($59,890 vs $59,939), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Davenport, IA and Elizabeth, NJ are about 855 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.