Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Davenport, IA
VS
Sparks, NV
🏆 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
Sparks
Nevada
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,938 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,025 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Davenport, IA
Pros
Homes cost $268k less ($155,100 vs $423,500)
Rent averages $636/mo less ($890 vs $1,526)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.0%)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Sparks
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Cons
Median income trails Sparks by $23,048/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
Sparks, NV
Pros
32% less violent crime than Davenport
Households earn $23,048 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 31°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $423,500
Higher rents — median is $1,526/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Davenport
Property crime (2583.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Davenport
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 103.2 (100 = US avg)
Davenport
Median Home Value
$268k less
$155,100 vs $423,500
Davenport
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.1% unemployment
Sparks
Median Income
$23,048
$82,938 vs $59,890/yr
Sparks
Violent Crime
32% lower
394.4 vs 581.4 per 100k
Sparks
Summer Heat
8.2°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Davenport, IA | Sparks, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper | 103.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $155,100 ✓ Lower | $423,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $890 ✓ Lower | $1,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,890 | $82,938 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 23.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 159⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 169⚠ High | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% ✓ Higher | 25.4% |
| High School or Higher | 92.0% ✓ Higher | 85.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Davenport Comm School District | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.0°F | 48.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.8" | 8.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.1" | 6.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,448 | 108,025 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 37.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% ✓ Higher | 59.4% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 15.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Davenport's cost of living index is 89.3 vs Sparks's 103.2 (US average = 100).
Davenport is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Davenport leads 13 of 23 categories. Davenport wins 13 and Sparks 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 Sparks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,100 vs $423,500 median home), income ($59,890 vs $82,938), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Davenport, IA and Sparks, NV are about 1,527 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.