Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Davenport, IA
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 Thornton 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
Thornton
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,064 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
141,799 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Davenport, IA
Pros
Homes cost $290k less ($155,100 vs $445,200)
Rent averages $868/mo less ($890 vs $1,758)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Thornton
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 91°F
Cons
Median income trails Thornton by $35,174/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
Thornton, CO
Pros
Households earn $35,174 more per year on average
53% less violent crime than Davenport
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 31°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $445,200
Higher rents — median is $1,758/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Davenport
Property crime (2835.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Davenport
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Davenport
Median Home Value
$290k less
$155,100 vs $445,200
Thornton
Median Income
$35,174
$95,064 vs $59,890/yr
Thornton
Violent Crime
53% lower
273.6 vs 581.4 per 100k
Thornton
Summer Heat
7.2°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Davenport, IA | Thornton, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $155,100 ✓ Lower | $445,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $890 ✓ Lower | $1,758⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,890 | $95,064 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 159⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| 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) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 30.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.0% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Davenport Comm School District | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.0°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.8" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.1" ✓ Less | 44.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,448 | 141,799 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% | 72.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Davenport's cost of living index is 89.3 vs Thornton's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Davenport is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Thornton leads 13 of 23 categories. Davenport wins 10 and Thornton 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 Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,100 vs $445,200 median home), income ($59,890 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Davenport, IA and Thornton, CO are about 758 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.