Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Davenport, IA
VS
Virginia Beach, VA
🏆 Virginia Beach leads 15 of 23 categories
Davenport
Iowa
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,890
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
101,448
Virginia Beach
Virginia
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$87,544 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
24 ✓ Safer
Population
457,900 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Davenport, IA
Pros
Homes cost $189k less ($155,100 vs $343,700)
Rent averages $678/mo less ($890 vs $1,568)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Virginia Beach
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Cons
Median income trails Virginia Beach by $27,654/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
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 4.3%)
Virginia Beach, VA
Pros
84% less violent crime than Davenport
Households earn $27,654 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (92.3 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 39.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 31°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $343,700
Higher rents — median is $1,568/mo
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
$189k less
$155,100 vs $343,700
Virginia Beach
Median Income
$27,654
$87,544 vs $59,890/yr
Virginia Beach
Violent Crime
84% lower
92.3 vs 581.4 per 100k
Virginia Beach
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.0% unemployment
Virginia Beach
Summer Heat
3.5°F warmer
July avg high 87.4°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Davenport, IA | Virginia Beach, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $155,100 ✓ Lower | $343,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $890 ✓ Lower | $1,568⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,890 | $87,544 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 23.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 10.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 159⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 24 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 169⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 39.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.0% | 94.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Davenport Comm School District | Virginia Beach City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.0°F | 50.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 87.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.8" ✓ Drier | 54.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.1" | 3.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,448 | 457,900 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 37.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 15.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Davenport's cost of living index is 89.3 vs Virginia Beach's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Davenport is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Virginia Beach leads 15 of 23 categories. Davenport wins 8 and Virginia Beach 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 Virginia Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,100 vs $343,700 median home), income ($59,890 vs $87,544), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Davenport, IA and Virginia Beach, VA are about 846 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.