City comparison
Davenport, IA vs Huntington, WV
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Davenport, IA (89.1) and Huntington, WV (88.4, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Davenport, IA goes as far as $99,300 in Huntington, WV.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $928 a month in Davenport, IA versus $853 in Huntington, WV. On $100,000, that's 15% of take-home pay in Davenport, IA and 14% in Huntington, WV.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $737 a year higher in Huntington, WV than in Davenport, IA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −1.6% moving from Davenport, IA to Huntington, WV ($108,137 → $106,437), while prices change by −0.7%. Net effect of the transfer: −0.8% in real buying power.
- Davenport, IA: price level 89.1 (much cheaper)
- Huntington, WV: price level 88.4 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Davenport, IA | Huntington, WV | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 89.1 | 88.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,262 in Huntington | $100,743 in Davenport |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $928/mo | $853/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,032 | $75,295 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,148 (IA) | $3,885 (WV) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 15% | 14% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,550 | $44,600 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Davenport-Moline, IA-IL | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL MSA and Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL and Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Davenport | Huntington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 68.3 | 51.3 |
| Goods | 94.2 | 96.3 |
| Utilities | 89.9 | 87.9 |
| Other services | 93.5 | 99.4 |
| Overall | 89.1 | 88.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Davenport, IA → Huntington, WV
Roughly even
Buying power +0.7%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax +$737/yr.
71 Strong offer
Huntington, WV → Davenport, IA
Roughly even
Buying power −0.7%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$737/yr.
66 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Davenport, IA is in the Davenport-Moline, IA-IL pay area; Huntington, WV is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Davenport, IA to Huntington, WV at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Davenport, IA | Huntington, WV | Real change, Davenport → Huntington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,708 | $61,722 | −0.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,871 | $74,678 | −0.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,937 | $89,508 | −0.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $108,137 | $106,437 | −0.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $127,786 | $125,776 | −0.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Davenport, IA | Huntington, WV | Huntington pay in Davenport dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,650 | $57,450 | $57,877 (−6.1%) |
| Software Developers | $115,780 | $110,780 | $111,603 (−3.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $77,600 | $70,840 | $71,366 (−8.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $77,150 | $81,010 | $81,612 (+5.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.