Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Davenport, IA
VS
Fargo, ND
🏆 Davenport leads 12 of 23 categories
Davenport
Iowa
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,890
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
101,448
Fargo
North Dakota
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4
Median Household Income
$64,432 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
127,319 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Davenport, IA
Pros
Homes cost $100k less ($155,100 vs $254,900)
Milder winters — January highs near 31°F vs 17°F
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
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 3.6%)
Median income trails Fargo by $4,542/yr
Fargo, ND
Pros
14% less violent crime than Davenport
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (3.6%)
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
Households earn $4,542 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (498.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3696.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Davenport
Median Home Value
$100k less
$155,100 vs $254,900
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 89.3 on the COL index
Fargo
Median Income
$4,542
$64,432 vs $59,890/yr
Fargo
Violent Crime
14% lower
498.2 vs 581.4 per 100k
Fargo
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
3.6% vs 5.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Davenport, IA | Fargo, ND |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper | 89.4 |
| Median Home Value | $155,100 ✓ Lower | $254,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $890 ✓ Lower | $900 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,890 | $64,432 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 3.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% ✓ Higher | 6.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 159⚠ High | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer | 176⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 42.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.0% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Davenport Comm School District | FARGO 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.0°F ✓ Warmer | 17.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.8" | 24.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.1" ✓ Less | 52.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,448 | 127,319 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% ✓ Higher | 44.2% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% ✓ More | 19.4% |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Davenport's cost of living index is 89.3 vs Fargo's 89.4 (US average = 100).
Davenport is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Davenport leads 12 of 23 categories. Davenport wins 12 and Fargo wins 11. 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 Fargo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,100 vs $254,900 median home), income ($59,890 vs $64,432), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Davenport, IA and Fargo, ND are about 479 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.