Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Davenport, IA
VS
Ontario, CA
🏆 Davenport leads 13 of 23 categories
Davenport
Iowa
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,890
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
101,448
Ontario
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
176,326 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Davenport, IA
Pros
Homes cost $358k less ($155,100 vs $513,000)
Rent averages $936/mo less ($890 vs $1,826)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Ontario
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 28.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (581.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Ontario by $18,180/yr
Property crime (3540.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Ontario, CA
Pros
53% less violent crime than Davenport
Households earn $18,180 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 31°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $513,000
Higher rents — median is $1,826/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Davenport
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Davenport
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Davenport
Median Home Value
$358k less
$155,100 vs $513,000
Davenport
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.8% unemployment
Ontario
Median Income
$18,180
$78,070 vs $59,890/yr
Ontario
Violent Crime
53% lower
272.2 vs 581.4 per 100k
Ontario
Summer Heat
9.9°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Davenport, IA | Ontario, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $155,100 ✓ Lower | $513,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $890 ✓ Lower | $1,826⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,890 | $78,070 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 159⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 169⚠ High | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% ✓ Higher | 19.2% |
| High School or Higher | 92.0% ✓ Higher | 76.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Davenport Comm School District | Ontario-Montclair |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.0°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.8" | 11.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,448 | 176,326 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% ✓ Higher | 55.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 24.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 10.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Davenport's cost of living index is 89.3 vs Ontario's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Davenport is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Davenport leads 13 of 23 categories. Davenport wins 13 and Ontario wins 10. 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 Ontario or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,100 vs $513,000 median home), income ($59,890 vs $78,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Davenport, IA and Ontario, CA are about 1,555 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.