Davenport, Iowa at a Glance
The East Coast may have D.C., and the West Coast may have the O.C., but the Midwest has the Q.C., and the Quad Cities’ definitive heart is Davenport. This mid-size Midwestern town, perched on the northern banks of the Mighty Mississippi might be unfamiliar to some, but with its friendly, easy-going spirit it really should be on everyone’s radar.
With a population of over 100,000, Davenport is the third-largest city in the state, and the largest by far of the Quad Cities, beating out Bettendorf on the Iowa side and Rock Island, Moline and East Moline on the Illinois side. And your math isn’t wrong there — there are actually five cities in this quad-fecta. Just keep that on the DL.
No matter how many cities you count in the Q.C., this region has bestowed an uncountable number of contributions to American culture. The steel plow, the washing machine and even sliced bread — the standard-bearer for greatness — were all invented here. The first successful appendectomy was performed by a Quad Cities doctor, and chiropractic care even originated here. We can all agree that a misaligned spine really ruins a perfectly sliced sandwich.
But you’re not moving to Davenport just for bragging rights alone. You want a city that has a diverse job market, affordable housing and fun things to do. Davenport checks all of these boxes. Manufacturing, trade, healthcare and professional services all have a strong presence in the regional job market, and corporate giants from John Deere to ADM all have bases here. The Rock Island Arsenal is one of the area’s single largest employers, but there are also good jobs at the many colleges and hospital systems in the area, too.
When you’re not at work, Davenport has a fun, family-friendly scene, with institutions like the Putnam Museum and Science Center, the Figge Art Museum and the German American Heritage Center. The Mississippi is a gorgeous backdrop for bike rides and runs along the Riverfront Trail, and it also sets the stage for summer concerts at LeClaire Park. When you want to get away, Davenport’s an easy drive to Des Moines and Iowa City, the Wisconsin Dells, St. Louis and, of course, Chicago.
If you are thinking of relocating to the Quad Cities for a new career or to be closer to family and friends, our moving guide to Davenport will give you the skinny on this Midwestern city. Learn about the weather, the job market, housing prices, schooling and fun things to do below.
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What’s the Weather Like in Davenport?
Like many a beloved friend, Davenport’s climate has a good side, a bad side and a whoa-what-was-that-all-about side. Let’s start with the good.
Perched on the riverbanks of the Mighty Miss’, Davenport enjoys a fairly cool, Midwestern climate with an average annual temperature of just 50 F. Summertime highs average only in the low 80s F, and rain falls reliably throughout the year, though it’s heaviest in the warmer months during the growing season. This warm, wet weather is good news for home gardeners, who can plant everything from tomatoes and squash to lilacs, peonies and roses in zone 5b. Dwarf fruit trees are another popular backyard addition, if you can keep the birds and squirrels at bay.
Winters can be long and snowy in Davenport, but most residents embrace the cold, enjoying activities like ice skating, sledding and cross-country skiing. The conditions are always ideal at Snowstar, a winter resort in nearby Andalusia. Expect lows in the teens from late December through February.
The bad news about Davenport is that, like the rest of the planet, the city’s weather is becoming more extreme. Those glorious riverbanks are prone to flooding, which has caused widespread damage to both businesses and residences in recent years. Tornadoes and other warm-weather menaces are also on the rise, as are thermometers during summer. Polar vortexes are causing the opposite problem in the wintertime, bringing sub-zero temperatures and unholy amounts of snow. While the 2023-24 season came in just above average, with a total snowfall of 39 inches, most of it fell only in January, when 27.9 inches buried the Quad Cities — one of the snowiest months ever on record.
Oh, and let’s not forget the thing that Iowa is most famous for: Hail. Okay, it’s more famous for corn, but in the game of climatic rock, paper, scissors, everyone knows hail covers corn, so hail wins. And in 1959, seven-inch-diameter hail fell in Scott County, crushing many fields of dreams.
How Affordable is Davenport?
Davenport’s easy-going attitude and family-centric environment certainly make the city an attractive place to relocate, but affordability is the real clincher. According to the U.S. Census, the median home value in Davenport is only $162,900 and rents average only $930/month. Residential real estate values in Davenport are lower than the statewide average of $195,900, but they are dwarfed by the national average, which now tops $300,000. Rates of homeownership are comparable to the national average.
Unfortunately, wages in the city also lag behind state and national trends. At $64,497, the median household income in Davenport is $14,000 less than the U.S. average, and it’s nearly $40,000 dollars less than the median in Bettendorf. This may be one reason why poverty rates are higher here than in the average U.S. city.
A single, working adult in the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island area needs to earn at least $19.82/hour or $41,229 to cover basic expenses for the year, according to the MIT Living Wage Calculator. That includes $9,727 for transportation, $8,520 for housing, $6,584 for taxes, $4,187 for food, $4,112 for miscellaneous living expenses, $3,483 for medical expenses, $3,126 for civic expenses and $1,490 for internet/mobile costs.
There is a considerable gap, however, between the average per capita income ($36,583) and that living wage, so some new residents may find themselves squeezed, while those at the higher end of the income spectrum may find themselves with more home-buying power than they had in their current home base. See how your potential wages in Davenport compares to the U.S average.
What’s the Job Market Like in Davenport?
The job market in Davenport and the Quad Cities draws on the most abundant natural resources in the region — the Mississippi river and the rich soils have long made transportation and agriculture-related industries dominant here. But Davenport residents are employed in a diverse array of professions, so if you’re considering moving to the Quad Cities for your career, there are plenty of options for you to consider.
The single largest employer in the region is still John Deere. This ag-manufacturing giant was founded in 1837, and the company employs 6,700 individuals today. Following close on its heels, the Rock Island Arsenal employs 6,300 civilian and military personnel in the area, and healthcare companies UnityPoint Health-Trinity and Mercy One Genesis employ 6,100 and 4,700 people, respectively. Food manufacturers also have a strong presence in the Q.C., with Tyson, Kraft Heinz and Nestle Purina employing at least 1,000 individuals apiece. Educational institutions like Eastern Iowa Community College and Augustana College round out the mix, supplying jobs and well-trained individuals to the workforce.
The Davenport-Moline-Rock Island job market did suffer some setbacks between December of 2023 and 2024, and unemployment rose from 3.9% to 4.5% in that time, a departure from the U.S. average, which stood at only 3.8%. The biggest losses were felt in the professional and business services area, which lost 8.9% during those 12 months. Manufacturing, the fourth-largest industry in the area fell 2.8%, but trade, transportation and utilities — the area’s largest sector — dropped only 0.7%, supporting 41,600 jobs in the region. But some major industries fared well. Education and health services grew its workforce by 1.4%, and it now supplies 28,000 regional jobs. And the government, the third-largest sector, expanded by 2%, and it now employs 25,700 regional workers.
How Are the Schools and Educational Options in Davenport?
Educational attainment rates in the state of Iowa trend higher than the national average, and Davenport is no exception. Nearly 93% of city residents have graduated from high school and 30% have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher. These numbers are much stronger than those in the capital, Des Moines, but they lag behind nearby Bettendorf, as well higher-ed hard-hitters like Ames, home of Iowa State University, and Iowa City, where the University of Iowa is located. In addition to these major universities, as well as those in nearby Chicago, Madison and Urbana-Champaign, Davenport residents have access to numerous institutions in the immediate area, including St. Ambrose University, Augustana University, the Trinity College of Nursing and Palmer College of Chiropractic.
Younger scholars are served by the Davenport Community School District, which boasts a low student-faculty ratio and diverse curricular offerings, from creative and STEM classes to technical courses, English language immersion programs and AP education. Bettendorf’s Pleasant Valley High School tops the U.S. News & World Report’s list of the best public schools in the Davenport metro area, and North Scott Senior High School in nearby Eldridge also gets high marks. Additionally, Davenport has private and charter school options for every age group, from the Quad City Montessori School to Rivermont Collegiate and Assumption High School.
What Can You Do for Fun in Davenport?
One of the best things about living in Davenport is that it’s family friendly. Now, this doesn’t mean that all the activities in the city are geared towards kids alone — it means that wherever you go, you’ll find something for everyone to enjoy. Take the public ice rink, the River’s Edge. This year-round venue has themed events each month, like Santa Skate, Monster Mash Glow Skate and even Swiftie Skate, but there are also 18+-only hours, so if you’re looking for a night away from your crew, you’ll find that here. No judgement if you still wear that Eras shirt, though.
The Putnam Museum and Science Center was certainly created with kids in mind, but more than 140,000 people find enriching experiences here each year. Explore ancient Mayan ruins or see how Iowa’s own ancient caves formed 250 million years ago. You can also learn about more recent local history in the Quad City Innovators exhibit, which showcases local legends like John Deere, inventor of the steel plow; J.F. McCullough, Cecil Medd and Henry C. Duke, the soft serve ice cream pioneers who gave the world Dairy Queen; and Otto Rohwedder, without whom we would have neither machine-sliced bread nor an apt comparison for all other “best things.”
The Figge Art Museum is one of the true gems of the entire region. In addition to its fine roster of temporary exhibitions — including an amazing light installation by Leo Villareal — the Figge’s permanent collection includes an array of both original Grant Woods and “American Gothic” parodies, proving this is one museum that isn’t afraid of poking fun…as long as it’s done with a pitchfork. The spoofs bedeck the famously austere farming duo in punk hairdos, devil horns and even snorkels, but the combination of the “Russian Gothic” and Hallmark’s “Barbie & Ken Gothic” brought back all the feels of 2023’s Barbenheimer craze. Hoping for some Deadpool, Dune and Conclave Gothics for 2025.
When you want to get outdoors, Davenport’s natural attractions shine bright. The Mississippi riverfront connects the Quad Cities, and residents can take full advantage of it in every season. Cycling enthusiasts will already be familiar with Iowa’s bike-minded population — after all, RAGBRAI, has been drawing riders to the state for more than 50 years now for the annual, cross-state trek. But, on an average Davenport day, the Riverfront Trail is all you need to put in some miles. This rail trail follows the river and Highway 67, also known as the Great River Road, for miles, and it’s also a wonderful place for a jog. You can run or ride all the way to Bettendorf and meet a friend for a well-deserved pile of pancakes from Stacks. Off-roaders should head to Sunderbruch Park, where beginner trails and thrilling, expert-level routes wind their way through the woods — roots and creek beds be damned.
If you want to see the sights but stick close to home, stroll out on the Davenport Skybridge to get a panoramic view of the region. This 50-foot-high, 600-foot-long suspended overlook downtown is illuminated for special occasions, and when the weather is nice, you can step out onto the observation decks for an unobstructed view of the Q.C.
Davenport’s no less fun at ground level, though, thanks to all the wonderful greenspaces downtown. You can let your pooch run wild in Centennial Dog Park and shredders have their own off-leash area in the Davenport Skate Park. Foodies will love the Freight House Farmer’s Market, which is open year-round. In LeClaire Park, summer concerts like the Mississippi Valley Blues Festival bring music fans out in droves while baseball fans pack the seats at Modern Woodmen Park for MiLB River Bandits games.
Away from the water’s edge, Vander Veer Botanical Park has been the fragrant heart of flower-lovers for close to 150 years. The rose test garden alone is enough to revive even the most frozen-over of souls after a long Davenport winter, but the catch-and-release lagoon and decorative fountains also offer a serene escape from the everyday.
History buffs can take a step back in time on a docent-led walking tour of the city. Starting downtown with Depression-era commercial buildings like Davenport City Hall and the flatiron-style Davenport Garage and Battery Company to private residences on West Lemon Street, participants will get a better understanding of how Davenport came to be the city it is today.
One of the strongest influences on the city’s culture were German immigrants, and the German American Heritage Center celebrates this legacy. Another must-see is the Rock Island Arsenal Museum. This Army installation still employs thousands of residents today, and the museum illuminates the triumphs — and many tribulations — of its long history. DYK? To speed up production in WWI, female workers were issued roller skates to run errands in one of the shops.
Davenport isn’t far from other stellar museums across the state, either. Plan a road trip to visit the African American Museum of Iowa in Cedar Rapids (80 miles away), the Stanley Museum of Art in Iowa City (55 miles away) and the Des Moines Art Center (166 miles away). Or, just head to Chicago, where there are too many museums to count!
How to Move to Davenport, Iowa?
If you’re ready to move to Davenport, you have an important decision to make: Do you want to move by yourself or hire a professional mover? Selecting the right professional moving company can make all the difference when you relocate. For close to 100 years, Mayflower has been the nation’s most-trusted mover. See how we can make your move a stress-free, seamless experience.
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If you’re moving within the city of Davenport or the state of Iowa, our interstate agents can assist you with local moves independently under their businesses and brands.
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