Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Davenport, IA
VS
Lansing, MI
🏆 Davenport leads 16 of 23 categories
Davenport
Iowa
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,890 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
101,448
Lansing
Michigan
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8
Median Household Income
$50,747
Violent Crime Index
354⚠ High
Population
112,986 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Davenport, IA
Pros
57% less violent crime than Lansing
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (5.0%)
Households earn $9,143 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Smaller class sizes — 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Lansing
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
Lansing, MI
Pros
Homes cost $43k less ($112,200 vs $155,100)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cons
Violent crime (1345.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Davenport by $9,143/yr
Property crime (2499.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.3% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Davenport
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 92.8 (100 = US avg)
Davenport
Median Income
$9,143
$59,890 vs $50,747/yr
Davenport
Violent Crime
57% lower
581.4 vs 1345.1 per 100k
Davenport
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
5.0% vs 8.3% unemployment
Lansing
Median Home Value
$43k less
$112,200 vs $155,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Davenport, IA | Lansing, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper | 92.8 |
| Median Home Value | $155,100 | $112,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $890 ✓ Lower | $954 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,890 ✓ Higher | $50,747 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 19.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 10.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 159⚠ High ✓ Safer | 260⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer | 354⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 169⚠ High | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 29.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.0% ✓ Higher | 90.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Davenport Comm School District | Lansing Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.0°F ✓ Warmer | 30.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F ✓ Warmer | 82.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.8" | 33.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.1" ✓ Less | 50.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,448 | 112,986 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% ✓ Higher | 53.3% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 22.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Davenport's cost of living index is 89.3 vs Lansing's 92.8 (US average = 100).
Davenport is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Davenport leads 16 of 23 categories. Davenport wins 16 and Lansing wins 7. 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 Lansing or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,100 vs $112,200 median home), income ($59,890 vs $50,747), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Davenport, IA and Lansing, MI are about 320 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.