Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Davenport, IA
VS
Grand Rapids, MI
🏆 Davenport leads 17 of 23 categories
Davenport
Iowa
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,890
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
101,448
Grand Rapids
Michigan
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.2
Median Household Income
$61,634 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
240⚠ High
Population
198,096 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Davenport, IA
Pros
36% less violent crime than Grand Rapids
Homes cost $49k less ($155,100 vs $203,900)
Rent averages $248/mo less ($890 vs $1,138)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.0%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Grand Rapids
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
Grand Rapids, MI
Pros
More college-educated — 39.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (910.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2480.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 75" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Davenport
Key Differences at a Glance
Davenport
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 95.2 (100 = US avg)
Davenport
Violent Crime
36% lower
581.4 vs 910.1 per 100k
Davenport
Median Home Value
$49k less
$155,100 vs $203,900
Davenport
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.6% unemployment
Grand Rapids
Median Income
$1,744
$61,634 vs $59,890/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Davenport, IA | Grand Rapids, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper | 95.2 |
| Median Home Value | $155,100 ✓ Lower | $203,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $890 ✓ Lower | $1,138 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,890 | $61,634 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 19.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 10.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 159⚠ High ✓ Safer | 191⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer | 240⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 169⚠ High | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 39.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.0% ✓ Higher | 89.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Davenport Comm School District | Grand Rapids Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.0°F ✓ Warmer | 30.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F ✓ Warmer | 82.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.8" ✓ Drier | 39.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.1" ✓ Less | 74.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,448 | 198,096 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% ✓ Higher | 54.5% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Davenport's cost of living index is 89.3 vs Grand Rapids's 95.2 (US average = 100).
Davenport is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Davenport leads 17 of 23 categories. Davenport wins 17 and Grand Rapids wins 6. 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 Grand Rapids or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,100 vs $203,900 median home), income ($59,890 vs $61,634), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Davenport, IA and Grand Rapids, MI are about 271 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.