Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Davenport, IA
VS
Las Cruces, NM
🏆 Davenport leads 13 of 22 categories
Davenport
Iowa
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,890 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
101,448
Las Cruces
New Mexico
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.8
Median Household Income
$51,013
Violent Crime Index
189⚠ High
Population
111,273 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Davenport, IA
Pros
19% less violent crime than Las Cruces
Homes cost $42k less ($155,100 vs $197,200)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (5.0%)
Households earn $8,877 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 96°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
Las Cruces, NM
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 31°F
More college-educated — 36.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.8)
Smaller class sizes — 11.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (720.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Davenport by $8,877/yr
Property crime (4873.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Davenport
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 93.8 (100 = US avg)
Davenport
Median Income
$8,877
$59,890 vs $51,013/yr
Davenport
Violent Crime
19% lower
581.4 vs 720.0 per 100k
Davenport
Median Home Value
$42k less
$155,100 vs $197,200
Davenport
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
5.0% vs 7.5% unemployment
Las Cruces
Summer Heat
11.7°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Davenport, IA | Las Cruces, NM |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper | 93.8 |
| Median Home Value | $155,100 ✓ Lower | $197,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $890 ✓ Lower | $907 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,890 ✓ Higher | $51,013 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 19.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 7.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 159⚠ High ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer | 189⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer | 232⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 | 11.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 36.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.0% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Davenport Comm School District | LAS CRUCES |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.0°F | 58.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.8" | 11.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.1" | 1.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,448 | 111,273 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% ✓ Higher | 53.8% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Davenport's cost of living index is 89.3 vs Las Cruces's 93.8 (US average = 100).
Davenport is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Davenport leads 13 of 22 categories. Davenport wins 13 and Las Cruces wins 9. 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 Las Cruces or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,100 vs $197,200 median home), income ($59,890 vs $51,013), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Davenport, IA and Las Cruces, NM are about 1,095 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.