Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Davenport, IA
VS
Springfield, IL
🏆 Springfield leads 15 of 22 categories
Davenport
Iowa
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,890
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
101,448
Springfield
Illinois
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.5
Median Household Income
$62,419 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
237⚠ High
Population
114,214 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Davenport, IA
Pros
35% less violent crime than Springfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 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
Property crime (3540.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Springfield by $2,529/yr
Springfield, IL
Pros
More college-educated — 34.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.5)
Households earn $2,529 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (901.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4911.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Davenport
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 90.5 (100 = US avg)
Davenport
Violent Crime
35% lower
581.4 vs 901.2 per 100k
Davenport
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.6% unemployment
Springfield
Median Income
$2,529
$62,419 vs $59,890/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Davenport, IA | Springfield, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper | 90.5 |
| Median Home Value | $155,100 | $147,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $890 ✓ Lower | $913 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,890 | $62,419 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 10.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 159⚠ High ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer | 237⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer | 234⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A- (111) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 34.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.0% | 92.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Davenport Comm School District | Springfield SD 186 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.0°F | 35.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.8" ✓ Drier | 40.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.1" | 21.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,448 | 114,214 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 21.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Davenport's cost of living index is 89.3 vs Springfield's 90.5 (US average = 100).
Davenport is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Springfield leads 15 of 22 categories. Davenport wins 7 and Springfield wins 15. 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,100 vs $147,700 median home), income ($59,890 vs $62,419), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Davenport, IA and Springfield, IL are about 132 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.