City Comparison

Davenport vs New Bedford

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Davenport

Iowa
83
Very Affordable
$212,000
Median Home
$900/mo
Median Rent
$66,200
Median Income

New Bedford

Massachusetts
112
Above Average
$371,000
Median Home
$1,225/mo
Median Rent
$57,000
Median Income

The Verdict

25.9%

Davenport is 25.9% less expensive than New Bedford overall. A household earning $75,000 in Davenport would need approximately $101,205 in New Bedford to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
60
Davenport
116
New Bedford
Groceries
97
Davenport
104
New Bedford
Utilities
83
Davenport
145
New Bedford
Transportation
105
Davenport
108
New Bedford
Healthcare
97
Davenport
118
New Bedford

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Davenport has the same purchasing power as $101,205 in New Bedford.

Conversely, $75,000 in New Bedford equals $55,580 in Davenport.

Living in Davenport vs New Bedford

Housing Costs

Davenport's housing index of 60 is lower New Bedford's 116, translating to median home prices of $212,000 vs $371,000. The $159,000 difference in home prices means roughly $10,332 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $900/mo in Davenport compared to $1,225/mo in New Bedford, a monthly difference of $325.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Davenport and 104 in New Bedford. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Davenport vs $494/month in New Bedford. Davenport offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $396/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 83 in Davenport and 145 in New Bedford. Monthly utility bills average approximately $332 in Davenport vs $580 in New Bedford. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 97 in Davenport and 118 in New Bedford. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 21-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $66,200 in Davenport and $57,000 in New Bedford. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,759 and $50,893 respectively. Davenport residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,545/month to housing in Davenport vs $1,330/month in New Bedford. In Davenport, median rent of $900/mo fits within this budget. In New Bedford, median rent of $1,225/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Utilities, where the gap is 62 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Davenport is 25.9% more affordable overall with an index of 83 vs 112.
A $75,000 salary in Davenport has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $101,205 in New Bedford, based on the cost of living difference.
Davenport's housing index is 60 with median homes at $212,000, while New Bedford's is 116 with median homes at $371,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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