Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Davenport, IA
VS
West Palm Beach, FL
🏆 West Palm Beach 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
West Palm Beach
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,044 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
152⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,588 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Davenport, IA
Pros
Homes cost $170k less ($155,100 vs $324,800)
Rent averages $724/mo less ($890 vs $1,614)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than West Palm Beach
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.0%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
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
Median income trails West Palm Beach by $4,154/yr
West Palm Beach, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 31°F
More college-educated — 37.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $4,154 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $324,800
Higher rents — median is $1,614/mo
Violent crime (575.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Davenport
Key Differences at a Glance
Davenport
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Davenport
Median Home Value
$170k less
$155,100 vs $324,800
Davenport
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.2% unemployment
West Palm Beach
Median Income
$4,154
$64,044 vs $59,890/yr
West Palm Beach
Summer Heat
6.1°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Davenport, IA | West Palm Beach, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $155,100 ✓ Lower | $324,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $890 ✓ Lower | $1,614⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,890 | $64,044 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 23.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 11.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 159⚠ High | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 152⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 169⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 37.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.0% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Davenport Comm School District | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.0°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.8" ✓ Drier | 61.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,448 | 117,588 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% ✓ Higher | 49.8% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 16.2% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Davenport's cost of living index is 89.3 vs West Palm Beach's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Davenport is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, West Palm Beach leads 13 of 23 categories. Davenport wins 10 and West Palm Beach 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 West Palm Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,100 vs $324,800 median home), income ($59,890 vs $64,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Davenport, IA and West Palm Beach, FL are about 1,184 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.