Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Davenport, IA
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 Tempe leads 13 of 23 categories
Davenport
Iowa
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,890
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
101,448
Tempe
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9
Median Household Income
$72,022 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
181,005 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Davenport, IA
Pros
Homes cost $227k less ($155,100 vs $382,100)
Rent averages $582/mo less ($890 vs $1,472)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.0%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 106°F
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Tempe
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (581.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Tempe by $12,132/yr
Property crime (3540.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Tempe, AZ
Pros
19% less violent crime than Davenport
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 31°F
Households earn $12,132 more per year on average
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $382,100
Higher rents — median is $1,472/mo
Violent crime (470.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2893.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Davenport
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 99.9 (100 = US avg)
Davenport
Median Home Value
$227k less
$155,100 vs $382,100
Davenport
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.7% unemployment
Tempe
Median Income
$12,132
$72,022 vs $59,890/yr
Tempe
Violent Crime
19% lower
470.3 vs 581.4 per 100k
Tempe
Summer Heat
22.0°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Davenport, IA | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper | 99.9 |
| Median Home Value | $155,100 ✓ Lower | $382,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $890 ✓ Lower | $1,472⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,890 | $72,022 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 21.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 159⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 169⚠ High | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.0% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Davenport Comm School District | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.0°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.8" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,448 | 181,005 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% ✓ Higher | 40.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% ✓ More | 14.4% |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Davenport's cost of living index is 89.3 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
Davenport is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tempe leads 13 of 23 categories. Davenport wins 10 and Tempe wins 13. 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 Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,100 vs $382,100 median home), income ($59,890 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Davenport, IA and Tempe, AZ are about 1,294 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.