Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Davenport, IA
VS
Escondido, CA
🏆 Escondido leads 12 of 23 categories
Davenport
Iowa
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,890
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
101,448
Escondido
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,554 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
151,114 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Davenport, IA
Pros
Homes cost $461k less ($155,100 vs $616,400)
Rent averages $943/mo less ($890 vs $1,833)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Escondido
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Smaller class sizes — 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (581.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Escondido by $17,664/yr
Property crime (3540.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 4.3%)
Escondido, CA
Pros
25% less violent crime than Davenport
Households earn $17,664 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 31°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.3%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $616,400
Higher rents — median is $1,833/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Davenport
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Davenport
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Davenport
Median Home Value
$461k less
$155,100 vs $616,400
Escondido
Median Income
$17,664
$77,554 vs $59,890/yr
Escondido
Violent Crime
25% lower
433.5 vs 581.4 per 100k
Escondido
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.0% unemployment
Escondido
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 87.2°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Davenport, IA | Escondido, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $155,100 ✓ Lower | $616,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $890 ✓ Lower | $1,833⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,890 | $77,554 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 27.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 10.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 159⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 169⚠ High | 71 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C (80) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% ✓ Higher | 26.6% |
| High School or Higher | 92.0% ✓ Higher | 80.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Davenport Comm School District | Escondido Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.0°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 87.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.8" | 14.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,448 | 151,114 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 36.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% ✓ Higher | 51.8% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 14.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Davenport's cost of living index is 89.3 vs Escondido's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Davenport is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Escondido leads 12 of 23 categories. Davenport wins 11 and Escondido 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 Davenport to Escondido or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,100 vs $616,400 median home), income ($59,890 vs $77,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Davenport, IA and Escondido, CA are about 1,558 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.