City comparison
Davenport, IA vs Longview, TX
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Davenport, IA (89.1) and Longview, TX (89.5, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Davenport, IA goes as far as $100,500 in Longview, TX.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,013 a month in Longview, TX versus $928 in Davenport, IA. On $100,000, that's 15% of take-home pay in Longview, TX and 15% in Davenport, IA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,148 a year higher in Davenport, IA than in Longview, TX.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −1.6% moving from Davenport, IA to Longview, TX ($108,137 → $106,437), while prices change by +0.5%. Net effect of the transfer: −2.0% in real buying power.
- Davenport, IA: price level 89.1 (much cheaper)
- Longview, TX: price level 89.5 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Davenport, IA | Longview, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 89.1 | 89.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,456 in Longview | $99,546 in Davenport |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $928/mo | $1,013/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,032 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,148 (IA) | $0 (TX) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 15% | 15% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,550 | $45,150 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Davenport-Moline, IA-IL | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL MSA and Longview, TX HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL and Longview, TX.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Davenport | Longview |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 68.3 | 66.7 |
| Goods | 94.2 | 93.8 |
| Utilities | 89.9 | 83.5 |
| Other services | 93.5 | 96.2 |
| Overall | 89.1 | 89.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Davenport, IA → Longview, TX
Roughly even
Buying power −0.5%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$3,148/yr.
67 Fair offer
Longview, TX → Davenport, IA
Roughly even
Buying power +0.5%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax +$3,148/yr.
70 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Davenport, IA is in the Davenport-Moline, IA-IL pay area; Longview, TX is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Davenport, IA to Longview, TX at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Davenport, IA | Longview, TX | Real change, Davenport → Longview |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,708 | $61,722 | −2.0% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,871 | $74,678 | −2.0% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,937 | $89,508 | −2.0% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $108,137 | $106,437 | −2.0% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $127,786 | $125,776 | −2.0% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Davenport, IA | Longview, TX | Longview pay in Davenport dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,650 | $60,210 | $59,937 (−2.8%) |
| Software Developers | $115,780 | $106,360 | $105,877 (−8.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $77,600 | $75,060 | $74,719 (−3.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $77,150 | $80,330 | $79,966 (+3.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.