Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Davenport, IA
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Davenport leads 13 of 21 categories
Davenport
Iowa
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,890
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
101,448
Worcester
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,011 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
4 ✓ Safer
Population
204,191 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Davenport, IA
Pros
Homes cost $151k less ($155,100 vs $305,600)
Rent averages $422/mo less ($890 vs $1,312)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.0%)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Worcester
Commutes run 6 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 Worcester by $3,121/yr
Worcester, MA
Pros
97% less violent crime than Davenport
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $3,121 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $305,600
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Davenport
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.0%)
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Davenport
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Davenport
Median Home Value
$151k less
$155,100 vs $305,600
Davenport
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.6% unemployment
Davenport
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 83.9°F vs 79.8°F
Worcester
Median Income
$3,121
$63,011 vs $59,890/yr
Worcester
Violent Crime
97% lower
16.5 vs 581.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Davenport, IA | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper | 103.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $155,100 ✓ Lower | $305,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $890 ✓ Lower | $1,312 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,890 | $63,011 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 24.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 9.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 159⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 169⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.0% ✓ Higher | 85.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Davenport Comm School District | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.0°F | 32.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.8" ✓ Drier | 48.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.1" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,448 | 204,191 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Davenport's cost of living index is 89.3 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Davenport is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Davenport leads 13 of 21 categories. Davenport wins 13 and Worcester 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 Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,100 vs $305,600 median home), income ($59,890 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Davenport, IA and Worcester, MA are about 966 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.