City Comparison

Davenport vs Worcester

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Davenport

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

Worcester

Massachusetts
125
Expensive
$340,000
Median Home
$1,600/mo
Median Rent
$52,228
Median Income

The Verdict

33.6%

Living in Davenport costs 33.6% less than Worcester. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Davenport, you would need $112,952 in Worcester.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
60
Davenport
152
Worcester
Groceries
97
Davenport
106
Worcester
Utilities
83
Davenport
122
Worcester
Transportation
105
Davenport
103
Worcester
Healthcare
97
Davenport
115
Worcester

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Davenport has the same purchasing power as $112,952 in Worcester.

Conversely, $75,000 in Worcester equals $49,800 in Davenport.

Living in Davenport vs Worcester

Housing Costs

Davenport's housing index of 60 is lower Worcester's 152, translating to median home prices of $212,000 vs $340,000. The $128,000 difference in home prices means roughly $8,316 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $900/mo in Davenport compared to $1,600/mo in Worcester, a monthly difference of $700.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Davenport and 106 in Worcester. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Davenport vs $504/month in Worcester. Davenport offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $516/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 83 in Davenport and 122 in Worcester. Monthly utility bills average approximately $332 in Davenport vs $488 in Worcester. 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 115 in Worcester. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 18-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 $52,228 in Worcester. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,759 and $41,782 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 $1,219/month in Worcester. In Davenport, median rent of $900/mo fits within this budget. In Worcester, median rent of $1,600/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 92 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Davenport is 33.6% more affordable overall with an index of 83 vs 125.
A $75,000 salary in Davenport has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $112,952 in Worcester, based on the cost of living difference.
Davenport's housing index is 60 with median homes at $212,000, while Worcester's is 152 with median homes at $340,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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