City Profile

Davenport, Iowa

USA · Comprehensive city data and intelligence

Overall Score

Davenport, Iowa, is a vibrant city nestled along the Mississippi River, forming a significant part of the bi-state Quad Cities region. Founded in 1836, the city boasts a rich history and a unique character, known for its open riverfront without permanent flood walls, contributing to a welcoming atmosphere. People are drawn to Davenport for its blend of urban amenities and suburban comfort, offering a lower cost of living and a strong sense of community. The city is recognized for its cultural attractions, extensive recreational opportunities, and a growing food scene, making it an appealing place for both individuals and families seeking an affordable yet dynamic lifestyle.

About Iowa

Iowa, located in the Midwest, is characterized by its expansive farmlands and a generally relaxed, community-focused lifestyle. The state's economy is diverse, with major industries including advanced manufacturing, biosciences, finance and insurance, and its foundational agricultural sector, which leads in corn, soybean, ethanol, and pork production. Living in Iowa is notably affordable, with the cost of living, particularly housing, being significantly lower than the national average. The climate is humid continental, featuring hot, humid summers and cold winters, with seasonal precipitation and susceptibility to various natural disasters like snowstorms, floods, and tornadoes.

100,913

Population

$39K

Avg Salary

Cost Index

51.4

Quality Score

How this 51/100 was calculated five components, with every reading behind them

Component	Readings used	Points	Weight	Contributes
Safety	Safety score: 45 / 100	45.0	30%	13.5
Affordability	Cost of living index (100 = national baseline): 91.0	55.0	25%	13.8
Economy & jobs	Median household income: $66,200 Income needed to live here: $67,000 Unemployment rate: 4.2%	48.0	20%	9.6
Growth	Population growth rate: no usable reading Job growth rate: 1.68%	53.6	15%	8.0
Business climate assessment	Business climate assessment: 65 / 100	65.0	10%	6.5
Overall score				51.4

Provenance. These figures were produced by the research pass recorded as Gemini (Tier 2 (reasoned), q=90 ✓ perfect), last refreshed 21 August 2026. They are researched estimates drawn from public sources, not a licensed data feed.

Each component is scored against fixed published endpoints, so this number is comparable with any other city and does not move as the dataset grows. Scoring framework 2026.10 — full methodology, weights and accepted ranges.

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Performance

Quality Scores

Business

Livability

Affordability

Growth

Expenses

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Davenport is notably more affordable than the national average, estimated to be around 9% lower. This affordability is a significant draw for residents, with housing expenses being a primary factor in the lower overall costs. Rent prices, in particular, are considerably below the national average, making it an attractive market for renters. While some costs like transportation might be slightly higher than the national average, groceries and utilities generally remain more affordable, contributing to a manageable cost of living for its residents.

Average Rent

$902/mo

Groceries

$400/mo

Transport

$120/mo

Utilities

$260/mo

Healthcare

$200/mo

Gym membership (monthly)

$45.00

Cinema ticket

$12.00

Restaurant meal (mid-range)

$35.00

Monthly groceries

$400.00

Doctor visit (without insurance)

$152.00

Income

Salary Insights

Davenport's economy is diverse, with key industries including Manufacturing, Health Care & Social Assistance, and Retail Trade, which were the largest employers in 2024. The city's employment landscape saw a growth rate of 1.68% from 2023 to 2024, indicating a steady job market. While the Quad Cities metro area experienced some job losses in recent months of 2026, sectors like education and health services have shown consistent growth. The presence of major employers like Genesis Health System and educational institutions such as St. Ambrose University and Palmer College of Chiropractic contribute to a stable job environment.

The average salary in Davenport is $38,673 per year. You would need approximately $67,000 to live comfortably.

Employment

Top Industries

Retail Trade Manufacturing Health Care & Social Assistance +3.80% Education Services +3.80% Utilities

Weather

Climate

🌡️

Avg Temp

☀️

Summer High

❄️

Winter Low

🌧️

Annual Rain

💧

69.00%

Humidity

🌤️

Sunny Days

Mobility

Transport

Getting around Davenport primarily relies on personal vehicles, with a significant majority of residents driving alone to work. The average one-way commute time is approximately 19.4 minutes, which is shorter than the national average. While the city has a Walk Score of 44, indicating that most errands require a car, some neighborhoods like Downtown and Gold Coast are more pedestrian-friendly. Public transit options are available through Davenport Citibus, but the overall car dependency remains medium to high due to limited bike lanes and the necessity of a car for many daily activities.

19 min

Avg Commute

/10

Transit Score

44.00/10

Walkability

Medium

Car Dependency

At a Glance

Pros & Cons

Advantages

The cost of living in Davenport is 9% lower than the national average, making it an affordable place to reside.

Davenport boasts a shorter average commute time of 19.4 minutes compared to the national average, saving residents time.

The city offers award-winning healthcare systems and has 11 hospitals, ensuring good access to medical care.

Davenport provides extensive recreational opportunities with over 50 parks and 20 miles of trails for various outdoor activities.

The housing market is affordable, with a median home sale price of $190,000 in June 2026, which is 46% lower than the national average.

Drawbacks

Davenport's crime rates are 168% higher than the Iowa average, indicating significant safety concerns.

Population growth in Davenport has been relatively flat since 1980, hovering around 100,000 residents.

The city has limited public transit options and a low walkability score of 44, leading to a medium to high car dependency for most errands.

Despite some growing sectors, overall job growth in the Quad Cities metro area has been mixed, with recent job losses in some months of 2026.

Davenport experiences cold and snowy winters, with average low temperatures around 15°F in January.

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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Urblytica benchmarks its Cost of Living Index against a United States national average baseline of 100. A score of 115 means a city is approximately 15% more expensive than the national average, while a score of 85 indicates it is 15% more affordable. This composite calculation is weighted across six primary expenditure categories: housing, utilities, grocery items, transportation, healthcare, and miscellaneous goods.

Urblytica aggregates housing data from multiple authoritative sources, including Multiple Listing Service (MLS) feeds, municipal property tax registries, the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS), and verified historical deed transactions. This multi-tier aggregation ensures precision in tracking median home values and rental rates.

A municipality must meet minimum data-density thresholds—including consistent reporting population samples from the U.S. Census and active residential or commercial real estate transaction feeds—to ensure statistical significance before a complete scoring profile is published.

When primary agencies (such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics or U.S. Census Bureau) issue historical data revisions or benchmark corrections, Urblytica's data pipeline automatically re-indexes affected historical archives to maintain longitudinal trend accuracy.

U.S. affordability calculations incorporate federal income tax brackets, state-specific income tax rates, and local municipal tax variations to evaluate the true net tax drag on median household earnings across different states and cities.

Local county and municipal property tax millage rates are factored directly into the housing component of the cost-of-living index to reflect recurring annual tax burdens for homeowners.

The platform aggregates state sales taxes alongside county and city surtaxes to measure consumer basket purchasing power parity accurately across different retail jurisdictions.

Utility calculations apply regional seasonal consumption weightings, incorporating high summer air conditioning loads in southern states and heavy winter heating demands in northern states.

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Davenport, Iowa

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Frequently Asked Questions

How is Urblytica's Cost of Living Index calculated relative to the national baseline?

Where does Urblytica source its real estate and housing market data?

What criteria determine whether a city is eligible for a full Urblytica economic and lifestyle profile?

How are historical data revisions handled when federal or municipal agencies update past statistics?

How are U.S. federal income tax brackets and state income taxes integrated into Urblytica's U.S. affordability model?

What role do local property tax millage rates play in calculating U.S. cost-of-living scores?

How does Urblytica account for state-level sales tax and local excise tax variations across U.S. cities?

How are U.S. regional utility costs—such as electricity and natural gas—benchmarked across different climate zones?

Does Urblytica's U.S. cost-of-living index factor in employer-sponsored healthcare or out-of-pocket medical costs?

How does Urblytica measure U.S. school district performance and educational access?

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