Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Davenport, IA
VS
Lowell, MA
🏆 Davenport leads 14 of 23 categories
Davenport
Iowa
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,890
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
101,448
Lowell
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,008 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
114,737 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Davenport, IA
Pros
Homes cost $208k less ($155,100 vs $362,800)
Rent averages $576/mo less ($890 vs $1,466)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Lowell
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.0%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Cons
Violent crime (581.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lowell by $13,118/yr
Property crime (3540.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Lowell, MA
Pros
8% less violent crime than Davenport
Households earn $13,118 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $362,800
Higher rents — median is $1,466/mo
Violent crime (532.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Davenport
Key Differences at a Glance
Davenport
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Davenport
Median Home Value
$208k less
$155,100 vs $362,800
Davenport
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.7% unemployment
Lowell
Median Income
$13,118
$73,008 vs $59,890/yr
Lowell
Violent Crime
8% lower
532.5 vs 581.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Davenport, IA | Lowell, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $155,100 ✓ Lower | $362,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $890 ✓ Lower | $1,466⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,890 | $73,008 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 8.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 159⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 169⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% ✓ Higher | 28.3% |
| High School or Higher | 92.0% ✓ Higher | 82.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Davenport Comm School District | Lowell |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.0°F | 34.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 84.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.8" ✓ Drier | 48.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.1" ✓ Less | 59.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,448 | 114,737 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% ✓ Higher | 43.3% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Davenport's cost of living index is 89.3 vs Lowell's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Davenport is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Davenport leads 14 of 23 categories. Davenport wins 14 and Lowell 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 Lowell or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,100 vs $362,800 median home), income ($59,890 vs $73,008), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Davenport, IA and Lowell, MA are about 989 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.