Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Davenport, IA
VS
Meridian, ID
🏆 Meridian leads 16 of 23 categories
Davenport
Iowa
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,890
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
101,448
Meridian
Idaho
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4
Median Household Income
$93,296 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
119,872 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Davenport, IA
Pros
Homes cost $271k less ($155,100 vs $425,800)
Rent averages $658/mo less ($890 vs $1,548)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Meridian by $33,406/yr
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
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 2.7%)
Meridian, ID
Pros
75% less violent crime than Davenport
Households earn $33,406 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (2.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.8 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 43.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $425,800
Higher rents — median is $1,548/mo
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Davenport
Key Differences at a Glance
Davenport
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 93.4 (100 = US avg)
Davenport
Median Home Value
$271k less
$155,100 vs $425,800
Meridian
Median Income
$33,406
$93,296 vs $59,890/yr
Meridian
Violent Crime
75% lower
146.8 vs 581.4 per 100k
Meridian
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
2.7% vs 5.0% unemployment
Meridian
Summer Heat
8.8°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Davenport, IA | Meridian, ID |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper | 93.4 |
| Median Home Value | $155,100 ✓ Lower | $425,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $890 ✓ Lower | $1,548⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,890 | $93,296 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 2.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 22.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 159⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 169⚠ High | 27 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 43.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.0% | 96.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Davenport Comm School District | JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.0°F | 38.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.8" | 12.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.1" | 18.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,448 | 119,872 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 37.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% | 76.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 27.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Davenport's cost of living index is 89.3 vs Meridian's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Davenport is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Meridian leads 16 of 23 categories. Davenport wins 7 and Meridian wins 16. 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 Meridian or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,100 vs $425,800 median home), income ($59,890 vs $93,296), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Davenport, IA and Meridian, ID are about 1,315 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.