Wondering how far your dollar stretches in Des Moines compared to Davenport? Below we break down housing costs, rent, taxes, income, and quality of life using 2026 data so you can make an informed relocation or remote-work decision. Every number is computed from Census, BLS, and Zillow data specific to these two metro areas.
| Des Moines | Metric | Davenport | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 89 | Cost of Living Index | 84 | -5.6% |
| $240,000 | Median Home Price | $165,000 | -31.3% |
| $850 | Median Monthly Rent | $850 | +0.0% |
| $67,200 | Median Household Income | $52,500 | -21.9% |
| 1.5% | Property Tax Rate | 1.8% | +20.0% |
| 2.8% | Unemployment Rate | 4.0% | +42.9% |
| 20 min | Average Commute | 20 min | +0.0% |
| 33.8 | Median Age | 36.8 | +8.9% |
| 700,000 | Metro Population | 385,000 | -45.0% |
Data sourced from Census Bureau, BLS, Zillow, and ApartmentAdvisor (2024-2025). COL Index: 100 = national average.
Monthly mortgage assumes 6.5% interest, 30-year fixed, 20.0%down payment. PITI includes principal, interest, property tax, and homeowner's insurance.
Buying a home in Des Moines costs $1,584/month (PITI) compared to $1,130/month in Davenport — a difference of $454/month or $5,448/year. The price-to-income ratio is 3.6x in Des Moines versus 3.1x in Davenport, suggesting Davenport is relatively more affordable for homebuyers relative to local incomes. At a 15% savings rate, it takes 4.8 years to save a down payment in Des Moines compared to 4.2 years in Davenport.
Estimated on each city's median household income, single filer, standard deduction, 2025 rates.
| Tax Category | Des Moines | Davenport |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Income | $67,200 | $52,500 |
| State Income Tax | $2,554 | $1,995 |
| Federal Income Tax | $6,233 | $4,171 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | $5,140 | $4,016 |
| Property Tax (on median home) | $3,600/yr | $2,970/yr |
| State Sales Tax Rate | 6.0% | 6.0% |
| Total Tax Burden | $13,927 (20.7%) | $10,182 (19.4%) |
| Take-Home Pay | $53,273 | $42,318 |
On median household income, total taxes (federal + state + FICA) come to $13,927 in Des Moines (20.7% effective) versus $10,182 in Davenport (19.4% effective). After taxes, take-home pay is $53,273 in Des Moines and $42,318 in Davenport. Property taxes add $3,600/year on the median Des Moines home versus $2,970/year in Davenport.
These figures adjust for cost of living using the formula: adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). If you earn $67,200 in Des Moines (COL 89) and relocate to Davenport (COL 84), you would need $63,425 to maintain the same purchasing power. This means you can take a pay cut of $3,775 and still maintain your lifestyle in Davenport.
Beyond costs, quality of life matters. The average commute in Des Moines is 20 minutes versus 20 minutes in Davenport, a difference of 0 minutes each way. Des Moines's lower unemployment rate of 2.8% versus 4.0% suggests a stronger job market. Davenport skews slightly older with a median age of 36.8 vs 33.8 in Des Moines.
Des Moines is 5.6% more expensive than Davenport overall. Des Moines has a cost of living index of 89 compared to 84 for Davenport (national average = 100). The biggest difference is housing: the median home costs $240,000 in Des Moines vs $165,000 in Davenport.
The median home price in Des Moines is $240,000, which is $75,000 more than Davenport's median of $165,000. Monthly rent follows a similar pattern: $850/month in Des Moines vs $850/month in Davenport, a difference of $0/month or $0/year.
To maintain the same standard of living, a $67,200 salary in Des Moines is equivalent to $63,425 in Davenport. This is based on the cost of living index ratio: Des Moines's COL index of 89 vs Davenport's 84. Conversely, $52,500 in Davenport equals $55,625 in Des Moines.
On a median household income, the combined federal, state, and FICA tax burden is $13,927 (20.7% effective rate) in Des Moines vs $10,182 (19.4% effective rate) in Davenport. Property taxes on the median home are $3,600/year in Des Moines (1.5% rate) vs $2,970/year in Davenport (1.8% rate). Sales tax rates are 6.0% in Iowa and 6.0% in Iowa.
Des Moines median household income: $67,200/yr. Davenport median household income: $52,500/yr (Census ACS).
Median monthly rent: $850 in Des Moines vs $850 in Davenport. Annualized that is $10,200 vs $10,200.
Davenport offers a lower cost of living (index 84 vs 89), which lets remote-workers keeping a coastal salary stretch further. Des Moines typically wins on amenities and labor-market depth.
Des Moines and Davenport numbers are pulled from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI (home values, rent), the U.S. Census Bureau ACS (income, demographics), and BEA RPP (cost-of-living index). Each value is timestamped on the page.
Source feeds (Zillow, Freddie Mac PMMS, Census ACS, BEA RPP) are refreshed on their native cadence. Page caches revalidate every 24 hours via Next.js ISR.
No. The Des Moines vs Davenport cost-of-living page is educational reference using public data and standard formulas. It is not personalized tax, legal, or investment advice. Consult a licensed professional for material decisions.
Home prices use Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI)[1]; rents use Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI)[1]. Median household income comes from the Census ACS 5-year estimates[2].
COL indices use the BEA Regional Price Parity methodology[3], normalized so 100 = national average.
Property tax rates are effective rates from the Tax Foundation[4], expressed as % of owner-occupied home value. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% fixed rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down, $1,800/yr homeowners insurance.
Federal tax calculations[6] assume single filer, standard deduction. State tax uses the top marginal rate times taxable income after the state standard deduction. FICA = 6.2% Social Security (up to wage base) + 1.45% Medicare.
Salary equivalence uses adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). This captures cost-of-living shift but not state income tax differences.
Unemployment figures are the most recent monthly MSA-level readings from the BLS LAUS series[7].
Last reviewed is computed from the maximum retrievedAt across every source this page consumes.
City data from Census Bureau[2], BLS[7], and Zillow[1] (2024-2025). Tax calculations use 2025 IRS rates[6], single filer, standard deduction. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% PMMS rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down. COL Index: 100 = national average[3]. Last reviewed .