City Comparison

Davenport vs Waterbury

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Davenport

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

Waterbury

Connecticut
95
Below Average
$280,000
Median Home
$1,200/mo
Median Rent
$48,700
Median Income

The Verdict

12.6%

Davenport is 12.6% less expensive than Waterbury overall. A household earning $75,000 in Davenport would need approximately $85,843 in Waterbury to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
60
Davenport
80
Waterbury
Groceries
97
Davenport
101
Waterbury
Utilities
83
Davenport
118
Waterbury
Transportation
105
Davenport
103
Waterbury
Healthcare
97
Davenport
99
Waterbury

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Davenport has the same purchasing power as $85,843 in Waterbury.

Conversely, $75,000 in Waterbury equals $65,526 in Davenport.

Living in Davenport vs Waterbury

Housing Costs

Davenport's housing index of 60 is lower Waterbury's 80, translating to median home prices of $212,000 vs $280,000. The $68,000 difference in home prices means roughly $4,416 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $900/mo in Davenport compared to $1,200/mo in Waterbury, a monthly difference of $300.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Davenport and 101 in Waterbury. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Davenport vs $480/month in Waterbury. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 83 in Davenport and 118 in Waterbury. Monthly utility bills average approximately $332 in Davenport vs $472 in Waterbury. 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 99 in Waterbury. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $66,200 in Davenport and $48,700 in Waterbury. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,759 and $51,263 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 $1,136/month in Waterbury. In Davenport, median rent of $900/mo fits within this budget. In Waterbury, median rent of $1,200/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Utilities, where the gap is 35 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Davenport is 12.6% more affordable overall with an index of 83 vs 95.
A $75,000 salary in Davenport has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $85,843 in Waterbury, based on the cost of living difference.
Davenport's housing index is 60 with median homes at $212,000, while Waterbury's is 80 with median homes at $280,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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