Is Davenport cheaper than Denver?

Yes. Typical rent in Davenport is $1,143 a month versus $2,089 in Denver — 45% cheaper. Median household income is $59,890 in Davenport compared with $85,853 in Denver, so Denver has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Davenport or Denver?

Davenport is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 32 versus 137 in Denver — 77% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Davenport or Denver?

School composites are close: A- in Davenport and A- in Denver. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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City comparison

Davenport, IA vs Denver, CO

Davenport, IA versus Denver, CO is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,143 a month in Davenport and $2,089 in Denver, and median household income lands at $59,890 versus $85,853. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Davenport takes affordability, safety, and weather, while Denver takes job market. The widest gap is crime index, where Davenport leads by 77% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Davenport can feel further apart than Davenport and Denver do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Davenport and Denver reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Davenport report Full Denver report

Davenport, IA

Rent: $1,143/mo
Median income: $59,890
Crime index: 32
Schools: A-
Weather: 70°F

Denver, CO

Rent: $2,089/mo
Median income: $85,853
Crime index: 137
Schools: A-
Weather: 82°F

Rent

45% cheaper

Davenport rent is 45% cheaper than Denver

Davenport

Winner

$1,143/mo

Denver

$2,089/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,143 a month in Davenport versus $2,089 in Denver, so Davenport is 45% cheaper. That's roughly $946/month back in your pocket — $11,352/year. Over five years that's $56,760 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Denver, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Davenport is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Median income

43% higher

Denver's median income is 43% higher than Davenport

Davenport

$59,890

Denver

Winner

$85,853

What this means for your life

Median household income is $85,853 in Denver versus $59,890 in Davenport, so typical pay runs 43% higher in Denver — about $25,963 more household income a year. Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Denver is the stronger labor market on paper. Davenport can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.

Crime index

77% lower crime

Davenport's crime index is 77% lower than Denver

Davenport

Winner

32 (100 = avg)

Denver

137 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Davenport's crime index is 32 versus 137 in Denver (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 77% lower in Davenport. That gap is meaningful day-to-day — it affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Davenport is the easier city. Denver can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

Neck and neck

Davenport and Denver are about even on school scores.

Davenport

A- · 84/100

Denver

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Davenport, A- in Denver). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

43% more comfortable

Davenport weather is 43% more comfortable than Denver

Davenport

Winner

70°F typical

Denver

82°F typical

What this means for your life

Davenport scores 43% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 70°F in Davenport and 82°F in Denver. Davenport reads as mild, livable temperatures; Denver reads as hot, long summers. Climate affects quality of life more than most people anticipate when planning a move. Consider how much time you spend outdoors and whether extreme heat or cold impacts your mood or productivity. Davenport is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Denver can still be right if you love that climate on purpose — beach heat, dry heat, or a real winter — but you cannot return a city's weather.

Fit check

Who should choose Davenport

Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing

Davenport is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 45% cheaper here at about $1,143 a month. Choose Davenport if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Pick Davenport if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (70°F) beat Denver on this page's weather index by 43%. Denver may pay more or cost less, but Davenport is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Davenport is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 77% lower than Denver (32 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.

Open the Davenport report →

Fit check

Who should choose Denver

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Denver is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 43% higher here ($85,853). Start with Denver if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Open the Denver report →

Bottom line

Davenport vs Denver, called

If safety is your priority, Davenport is the clear choice.

If the job market matters more to you, Denver pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Davenport offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Davenport vs Denver FAQ

Is Davenport cheaper than Denver?: Yes. Typical rent in Davenport is $1,143 a month versus $2,089 in Denver — 45% cheaper. Median household income is $59,890 in Davenport compared with $85,853 in Denver, so Denver has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Davenport or Denver?: Davenport is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 32 versus 137 in Denver — 77% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Davenport or Denver?: School composites are close: A- in Davenport and A- in Denver. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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