City comparison
Davenport, IA vs Hickory, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Davenport, IA (89.1) and Hickory, NC (88.5, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Davenport, IA goes as far as $99,300 in Hickory, NC.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $928 a month in Davenport, IA and $908 in Hickory, NC.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $333 a year higher in Hickory, NC than in Davenport, IA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +0.6% moving from Davenport, IA to Hickory, NC ($108,137 → $108,810), while prices change by −0.7%. Net effect of the transfer: +1.3% in real buying power.
- Davenport, IA: price level 89.1 (much cheaper)
- Hickory, NC: price level 88.5 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Davenport, IA | Hickory, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 89.1 | 88.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,334 in Hickory | $100,670 in Davenport |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $928/mo | $908/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,032 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,148 (IA) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 15% | 14% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,550 | $45,220 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Davenport-Moline, IA-IL | Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC |
Rent areas: Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL MSA and Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC MSA. Metro areas: Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL and Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Davenport | Hickory |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 68.3 | 59.6 |
| Goods | 94.2 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 89.9 | 87.8 |
| Other services | 93.5 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 89.1 | 88.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Davenport, IA → Hickory, NC
Roughly even
Buying power +0.7%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax +$333/yr.
71 Strong offer
Hickory, NC → Davenport, IA
Roughly even
Buying power −0.7%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$333/yr.
67 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Davenport, IA is in the Davenport-Moline, IA-IL pay area; Hickory, NC is in Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC. The last column shows what a transfer from Davenport, IA to Hickory, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Davenport, IA | Hickory, NC | Real change, Davenport → Hickory |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,708 | $63,098 | +1.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,871 | $76,343 | +1.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,937 | $91,503 | +1.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $108,137 | $108,810 | +1.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $127,786 | $128,581 | +1.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Davenport, IA | Hickory, NC | Hickory pay in Davenport dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,650 | $49,540 | $49,872 (−19.1%) |
| Software Developers | $115,780 | $122,540 | $123,361 (+6.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $77,600 | $77,490 | $78,009 (+0.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $77,150 | $80,060 | $80,597 (+4.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.