Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Davenport, IA
VS
Lafayette, LA
🏆 Davenport leads 15 of 23 categories
Davenport
Iowa
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3
Median Household Income
$59,890 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
101,448
Lafayette
Louisiana
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,850
Violent Crime Index
281⚠ High
Population
121,706 ✓ 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 $234,900)
45% less violent crime than Lafayette
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.0%)
Rent averages $132/mo less ($890 vs $1,022)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 91°F
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
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Lafayette
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 31°F
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Davenport
Cons
Violent crime (1066.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4347.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Davenport
Median Income
$1,040
$59,890 vs $58,850/yr
Davenport
Violent Crime
45% lower
581.4 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Davenport
Median Home Value
$80k less
$155,100 vs $234,900
Davenport
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.1% unemployment
Lafayette
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 89.3 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Summer Heat
7.1°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Davenport, IA | Lafayette, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.3 | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $155,100 ✓ Lower | $234,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $890 ✓ Lower | $1,022 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,890 ✓ Higher | $58,850 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 20.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 8.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 159⚠ High ✓ Safer | 251⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer | 281⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer | 207⚠ 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 | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 40.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.0% ✓ Higher | 90.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Davenport Comm School District | Lafayette Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.0°F | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.8" ✓ Drier | 64.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,448 | 121,706 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% ✓ Higher | 56.3% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 16.2% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Davenport's cost of living index is 89.3 vs Lafayette's 87.0 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Davenport leads 15 of 23 categories. Davenport wins 15 and Lafayette 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 Lafayette or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,100 vs $234,900 median home), income ($59,890 vs $58,850), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Davenport, IA and Lafayette, LA are about 788 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.