Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Davenport, IA
VS
Houston, TX
🏆 Davenport leads 15 of 23 categories
Davenport
Iowa
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,890
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
101,448
Houston
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$60,440 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
2,296,253 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Davenport, IA
Pros
Homes cost $80k less ($155,100 vs $235,000)
49% less violent crime than Houston
Rent averages $345/mo less ($890 vs $1,235)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.0%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Houston
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
Houston, TX
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 31°F
More college-educated — 35.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (1148.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4293.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Davenport
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Davenport
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Davenport
Violent Crime
49% lower
581.4 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Davenport
Median Home Value
$80k less
$155,100 vs $235,000
Davenport
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.6% unemployment
Houston
Median Income
$550
$60,440 vs $59,890/yr
Houston
Summer Heat
9.3°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Davenport, IA | Houston, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $155,100 ✓ Lower | $235,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $890 ✓ Lower | $1,235 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,890 | $60,440 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 27.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 9.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 159⚠ High ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer | 302⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| 🎓 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 | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 35.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.0% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Davenport Comm School District | HOUSTON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.0°F | 62.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.8" ✓ Drier | 55.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,448 | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% ✓ Higher | 42.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 23.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Davenport's cost of living index is 89.3 vs Houston's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Davenport is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Davenport leads 15 of 23 categories. Davenport wins 15 and Houston wins 8. 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 Houston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,100 vs $235,000 median home), income ($59,890 vs $60,440), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Davenport, IA and Houston, TX are about 856 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.