Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Davenport, IA
VS
Suffolk, VA
🏆 Suffolk leads 12 of 23 categories
Davenport
Iowa
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,890
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
101,448 ✓ Larger
Suffolk
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$87,758 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
98 ✓ Safer
Population
94,856
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Davenport, IA
Pros
Homes cost $159k less ($155,100 vs $314,400)
Rent averages $486/mo less ($890 vs $1,376)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (5.0%)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Suffolk
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Cons
Median income trails Suffolk by $27,868/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
Suffolk, VA
Pros
Households earn $27,868 more per year on average
36% less violent crime than Davenport
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 31°F
More college-educated — 32.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $314,400
Higher rents — median is $1,376/mo
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 5.0%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Davenport
Key Differences at a Glance
Davenport
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Davenport
Median Home Value
$159k less
$155,100 vs $314,400
Davenport
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.3% unemployment
Suffolk
Median Income
$27,868
$87,758 vs $59,890/yr
Suffolk
Violent Crime
36% lower
371.0 vs 581.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Davenport, IA | Suffolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $155,100 ✓ Lower | $314,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $890 ✓ Lower | $1,376⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,890 | $87,758 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 7.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 159⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 169⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 32.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.0% ✓ Higher | 91.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Davenport Comm School District | Suffolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.0°F | 49.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.8" ✓ Drier | 51.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.1" | 5.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,448 ✓ Larger | 94,856 |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% | 70.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 14.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Davenport's cost of living index is 89.3 vs Suffolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Davenport is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Suffolk leads 12 of 23 categories. Davenport wins 11 and Suffolk wins 12. 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 Suffolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,100 vs $314,400 median home), income ($59,890 vs $87,758), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Davenport, IA and Suffolk, VA are about 819 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.