Davenport, IA vs Des Moines, IA

Davenport is moderately more affordable than Des Moines, with a 8.5% lower cost of living index. Davenport scores 73 compared to 79 for Des Moines, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Des Moines can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Davenport is $930/month compared to $1,054/month in Des Moines — a 12% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Davenport is more affordable at $162,900 median vs $183,700.

Median household income in Davenport is $64,497 compared to $63,966 in Des Moines (+0.8%). Davenport offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Davenport spend roughly 17.3% of their income on rent, less than the 19.8% in Des Moines.