Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Davenport, IA
VS
Waterbury, CT
🏆 Davenport leads 15 of 23 categories
Davenport
Iowa
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,890 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
101,448
Waterbury
Connecticut
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.1
Median Household Income
$51,451
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
114,480 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Davenport, IA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.8 pts lower (5.0%)
Rent averages $250/mo less ($890 vs $1,140)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Households earn $8,439 more per year on average
More college-educated — 28.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Cons
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
Waterbury, CT
Pros
45% less violent crime than Davenport
Milder winters — January highs near 37°F vs 31°F
Cons
Median income trails Davenport by $8,439/yr
Property crime (2918.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 5.0%)
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Davenport
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 95.1 (100 = US avg)
Davenport
Median Income
$8,439
$59,890 vs $51,451/yr
Davenport
Unemployment
4.8 pp lower
5.0% vs 9.8% unemployment
Waterbury
Violent Crime
45% lower
322.5 vs 581.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Davenport, IA | Waterbury, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper | 95.1 |
| Median Home Value | $155,100 ✓ Lower | $162,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $890 ✓ Lower | $1,140 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,890 ✓ Higher | $51,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 159⚠ High | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 169⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 92.0% ✓ Higher | 81.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Davenport Comm School District | Waterbury School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.0°F | 37.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 84.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.8" ✓ Drier | 52.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.1" ✓ Less | 46.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,448 | 114,480 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 36.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% ✓ Higher | 43.8% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Davenport's cost of living index is 89.3 vs Waterbury's 95.1 (US average = 100).
Davenport is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Davenport leads 15 of 23 categories. Davenport wins 15 and Waterbury wins 8. 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 Waterbury or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,100 vs $162,800 median home), income ($59,890 vs $51,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Davenport, IA and Waterbury, CT are about 907 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.