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US NEWS AND WORLD REPORT
Davenport ranks in the top 50 places to live in 2025 and 2026, according to the most recent list compiled by US News and World Report.
US News selected and ranked what it considered the top 150 cities in the U.S. based on cities' job market, value, quality of life and desirability.
Davenport came in at No. 43 on the list, the only Iowa city to crack the top 50. The area scored points for low cost of living, notching an 8 of 10 on value. The list noted the Quad-Cities had lower average home prices than the Iowa, Illinois or national averages. US News lists the average home price in Davenport at $170,262 and the median monthly rent at $1,036.
Davenport's quality of life scored 6.3 out of 10 for an overall score of 6.4 out of 10.
Davenport was also ranked No. 43 in the 2024-2025 best places to live, a list released in May.
US News gave a favorable rating to the Quad-Cities job market, scoring it with a 6.2 out of 10 and stating the market is healthier than other similarly sized metro areas.
The largest employers in the Quad-Cities are John Deere and the Rock Island Arsenal. Other major employers in the area that US News highlighted were MercyOne Genesis, UnityPoint Health, Hy-Vee and HNI Corporation.
According to US News, the median household income in Davenport is about $67,000 and the area had a 5% unemployment rate in 2023, lower than the national average of 5.3%.
The article took note of theater in the Quad-Cities, giving a nod to the Black Box Theatre in Moline, the Adler Theatre in Davenport, Vibrant Arena in Moline and The Rust Belt in East Moline.
US News also noted a number of other Quad-Cities' attractions — Ballet Quad Cities, the Quad City Symphony Orchestra, the Figge Art Museum and the Putnam Museum and Science Center.
Also, US News acknowledged events during the summer that draw in visitors from around the country, such as the John Deere Classic PGA Tour event and the Quad-City Times Bix 7 race along local music events and festivals. And it noted the local sports scene, minor league hockey's Quad City Storm, minor league baseball team the Quad Cities River Bandits and indoor football team the Quad City Steamwheelers.
Davenport, however, scored lower than other similarly sized areas for its public schools. US News considered just Davenport public schools, which it ranked a 4.4 out of 10 on its "College Readiness Index." US News used data from its Best High Schools rankings.
The city also had a higher-than-average crime rate in 2022, calculated by US News based on data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Uniform Crime Reports.
US News also ranked Davenport No. 63 in its list of best places to retire.
Davenport ranks 43rd in US News best places to live
- Sarah Watson
- Dec 2, 2024
Davenport ranks in the top 50 places to live in 2025 and 2026, according to the most recent list compiled by US News and World Report.
US News selected and ranked what it considered the top 150 cities in the U.S. based on cities' job market, value, quality of life and desirability.
Davenport came in at No. 43 on the list, the only Iowa city to crack the top 50. The area scored points for low cost of living, notching an 8 of 10 on value. The list noted the Quad-Cities had lower average home prices than the Iowa, Illinois or national averages. US News lists the average home price in Davenport at $170,262 and the median monthly rent at $1,036.
Davenport's quality of life scored 6.3 out of 10 for an overall score of 6.4 out of 10.
Davenport was also ranked No. 43 in the 2024-2025 best places to live, a list released in May.
US News gave a favorable rating to the Quad-Cities job market, scoring it with a 6.2 out of 10 and stating the market is healthier than other similarly sized metro areas.
The largest employers in the Quad-Cities are John Deere and the Rock Island Arsenal. Other major employers in the area that US News highlighted were MercyOne Genesis, UnityPoint Health, Hy-Vee and HNI Corporation.
According to US News, the median household income in Davenport is about $67,000 and the area had a 5% unemployment rate in 2023, lower than the national average of 5.3%.
The article took note of theater in the Quad-Cities, giving a nod to the Black Box Theatre in Moline, the Adler Theatre in Davenport, Vibrant Arena in Moline and The Rust Belt in East Moline.
US News also noted a number of other Quad-Cities' attractions — Ballet Quad Cities, the Quad City Symphony Orchestra, the Figge Art Museum and the Putnam Museum and Science Center.
Also, US News acknowledged events during the summer that draw in visitors from around the country, such as the John Deere Classic PGA Tour event and the Quad-City Times Bix 7 race along local music events and festivals. And it noted the local sports scene, minor league hockey's Quad City Storm, minor league baseball team the Quad Cities River Bandits and indoor football team the Quad City Steamwheelers.
Davenport, however, scored lower than other similarly sized areas for its public schools. US News considered just Davenport public schools, which it ranked a 4.4 out of 10 on its "College Readiness Index." US News used data from its Best High Schools rankings.
The city also had a higher-than-average crime rate in 2022, calculated by US News based on data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Uniform Crime Reports.
US News also ranked Davenport No. 63 in its list of best places to retire.
