Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Davenport, IA
VS
Highlands Ranch, CO
🏆 Highlands Ranch leads 16 of 23 categories
Davenport
Iowa
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,890
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
101,448
Highlands Ranch
Colorado
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$148,227 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
101,514 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Davenport, IA
Pros
Homes cost $482k less ($155,100 vs $637,400)
Rent averages $1463/mo less ($890 vs $2,353)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Highlands Ranch
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Smaller class sizes — 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Highlands Ranch by $88,337/yr
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 3.4%)
Highlands Ranch, CO
Pros
Households earn $88,337 more per year on average
76% less violent crime than Davenport
More college-educated — 65.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (3.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 31°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $637,400
Higher rents — median is $2,353/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Davenport
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Davenport
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Davenport
Median Home Value
$482k less
$155,100 vs $637,400
Highlands Ranch
Median Income
$88,337
$148,227 vs $59,890/yr
Highlands Ranch
Violent Crime
76% lower
138.1 vs 581.4 per 100k
Highlands Ranch
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.0% unemployment
Highlands Ranch
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Davenport, IA | Highlands Ranch, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $155,100 ✓ Lower | $637,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $890 ✓ Lower | $2,353⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,890 | $148,227 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 25.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 26.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 159⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 169⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 65.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.0% | 98.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Davenport Comm School District | Douglas County School District No. Re 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.0°F | 44.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.8" | 18.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.1" ✓ Less | 64.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,448 | 101,514 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 41.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% | 79.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 24.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Davenport's cost of living index is 89.3 vs Highlands Ranch's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Davenport is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Highlands Ranch leads 16 of 23 categories. Davenport wins 7 and Highlands Ranch wins 16. 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 Highlands Ranch or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,100 vs $637,400 median home), income ($59,890 vs $148,227), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Davenport, IA and Highlands Ranch, CO are about 766 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.