Cedar Rapids vs Davenport
Compare Cedar Rapids, IA and Davenport, IA on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Housing costs are close: ACS median rent is $863/mo in Cedar Rapids and $875/mo in Davenport, with HUD 2-bedroom benchmarks of $941/mo and $953/mo. Across the four public-data screens (cost/climate, work, daily life, community) the metros land close together (234 vs 243 summed points), so the right pick depends on which tradeoffs you can live with.
Their climates screen similarly — summer highs near 84°F and 84°F respectively. If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Cedar Rapids; if walkable daily life matters more, Davenport screens stronger on the walkability proxy (10 vs 7). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Both cities are close on the cost and climate screen.
Both cities are close on the work screen.
Davenport leads 45 to 35 on the daily life screen.
Both cities are close on the community screen.
$85,000 in Cedar Rapids is roughly $127,500 in Davenport using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Cedar Rapids | Davenport | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $863/mo | $875/mo | Cedar Rapids |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $941/mo | $953/mo | Cedar Rapids |
| Median home value | $187,000 | $162,000 | Davenport |
| State income tax | 3.8% | 3.8% | Tie |
| Average commute | 21.5 min | 22.1 min | Cedar Rapids |
| Safety score | 64/100 | 64/100 | Tie |
| School score | 7/10 | 5/10 | Cedar Rapids |
| Walkability estimate | 7/100 | 10/100 | Davenport |
| Outdoor score | 6/10 | 6/10 | Tie |
| Restaurants per 100k | 172.3 | 193.2 | Davenport |
| Mountain distance | 229 mi | 187 mi | Davenport |
| Coast distance | 793 mi | 732 mi | Davenport |
What stands out
Cedar Rapids stronger signals
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
- Ski location within 55 miles
- More affordable than many peer metros
- Shorter average commute
Cedar Rapids tradeoffs
- Higher natural disaster risk
- Cold winters
Davenport stronger signals
- Strong food and nightlife amenities score
- Public park/protected-area signal within 0 miles
- Ski location within 10 miles
- More affordable than many peer metros
Davenport tradeoffs
- Higher natural disaster risk
- Cold winters
Common questions
Is Cedar Rapids cheaper than Davenport?
On public benchmarks Cedar Rapids is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $863/mo in Cedar Rapids vs $875/mo in Davenport; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $941/mo vs $953/mo; state income tax is 3.8% vs 3.8%.
Is Cedar Rapids or Davenport safer?
Cedar Rapids screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 64/100 for Cedar Rapids and 64/100 for Davenport (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Cedar Rapids or Davenport?
School screens show 7/10 for Cedar Rapids vs 5/10 for Davenport, alongside the safety scores above. It is a metro-level screen; verify specific school districts before weighting it heavily.
How different is the climate between Cedar Rapids and Davenport?
Cedar Rapids: summer highs near 84°F, winter lows near 3°F, disaster-risk band 3/3. Davenport: 84°F / 4°F, disaster-risk band 3/3 (NOAA climate normals).
Keep researching
Score this comparison with your own constraints
Public comparison pages use equal-weighted signals. The questionnaire reweights cities around your housing budget, climate preferences, work needs, family needs, and daily-life priorities.
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