Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Davenport, IA
VS
Norwalk, CA
🏆 Davenport leads 12 of 23 categories
Davenport
Iowa
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,890
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
101,448
Norwalk
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
99 ✓ Safer
Population
101,893 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Davenport, IA
Pros
Homes cost $438k less ($155,100 vs $593,100)
Rent averages $970/mo less ($890 vs $1,860)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Norwalk
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 28.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Norwalk by $31,369/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
Norwalk, CA
Pros
Households earn $31,369 more per year on average
36% less violent crime than Davenport
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 31°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $593,100
Higher rents — median is $1,860/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Davenport
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Davenport
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Davenport
Median Home Value
$438k less
$155,100 vs $593,100
Davenport
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.6% unemployment
Norwalk
Median Income
$31,369
$91,259 vs $59,890/yr
Norwalk
Violent Crime
36% lower
374.4 vs 581.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Davenport, IA | Norwalk, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $155,100 ✓ Lower | $593,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $890 ✓ Lower | $1,860⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,890 | $91,259 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 29.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 159⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 99 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 169⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 92.0% ✓ Higher | 76.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Davenport Comm School District | Norwalk-La Mirada Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.0°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 84.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.8" | 15.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,448 | 101,893 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% | 67.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 22.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 13.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Davenport's cost of living index is 89.3 vs Norwalk's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Davenport is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Davenport leads 12 of 23 categories. Davenport wins 12 and Norwalk wins 11. 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 Norwalk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,100 vs $593,100 median home), income ($59,890 vs $91,259), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Davenport, IA and Norwalk, CA are about 1,584 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.