Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Davenport, IA
VS
St. Paul, MN
🏆 Davenport leads 13 of 22 categories
Davenport
Iowa
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,890
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
101,448
St. Paul
Minnesota
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,919 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
308,806 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Davenport, IA
Pros
Homes cost $110k less ($155,100 vs $264,900)
Rent averages $284/mo less ($890 vs $1,174)
6% less violent crime than St. Paul
15% cheaper overall cost of living than St. Paul
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Cons
Violent crime (581.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails St. Paul by $10,029/yr
Property crime (3540.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
St. Paul, MN
Pros
Households earn $10,029 more per year on average
More college-educated — 42.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (617.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Davenport
Property crime (2834.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 40" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Davenport
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Davenport
Violent Crime
6% lower
581.4 vs 617.7 per 100k
Davenport
Median Home Value
$110k less
$155,100 vs $264,900
St. Paul
Median Income
$10,029
$69,919 vs $59,890/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Davenport, IA | St. Paul, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $155,100 ✓ Lower | $264,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $890 ✓ Lower | $1,174 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,890 | $69,919 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 23.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 15.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 159⚠ High | 152⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 169⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 42.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.0% ✓ Higher | 88.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Davenport Comm School District | Saint Paul Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.0°F ✓ Warmer | 23.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F ✓ Warmer | 82.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.8" | 29.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.1" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,448 | 308,806 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% ✓ Higher | 53.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Davenport's cost of living index is 89.3 vs St. Paul's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Davenport is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Davenport leads 13 of 22 categories. Davenport wins 13 and St. Paul wins 9. 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 St. Paul or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,100 vs $264,900 median home), income ($59,890 vs $69,919), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Davenport, IA and St. Paul, MN are about 266 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.