Is it cheaper to live in Concord or Davenport?

Davenport, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 32% below Concord, NH's $1,410, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Concord than in Davenport?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Concord versus $31,000 in Davenport.

Which has lower taxes, Concord or Davenport?

Concord is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Davenport under Iowa's (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax).

Concord vs Davenport Cost of Living 2026

Concord

New Hampshire

$1,410/mo est.

Davenport

Iowa

$960/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,410 in Concord, NH versus $960 in Davenport, IA. Overall, Davenport, IA is roughly 32% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Concord, NH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $83,701 in Concord, NH and $64,497 in Davenport, IA — about 23% higher in Concord, NH. New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax.

Concord, NH

Davenport, IA

Rent

Studio

$876

$726

+17% in Concord, NH

1 Bedroom

$1,134

$777

+31% in Concord, NH

2 Bedroom

$1,475

$962

+35% in Concord, NH

3 Bedroom

$1,769

$1,117

+37% in Concord, NH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$323,700

$162,900

+50% in Concord, NH

Income

Median Household Income

$83,701

$64,497

+23% in Concord, NH

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$48,550

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

40.7 yr

37.8 yr

+2.9 yr in Concord, NH

Homeownership

57.4%

63.0%

+5.6 pp in Davenport, IA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

40.1%

30.0%

+10.1 pp in Concord, NH

Avg Commute

23.2 min

18.7 min

+4.5 min in Concord, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

180.7

581.4

+222% in Davenport, IA

Property Crime

1,251.5

3,559.6

+184% in Davenport, IA

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

46.4°F

49.3°F

+2.9°F in Davenport, IA

Annual Precipitation

40.6 in

36.0 in

+4.6 in in Concord, NH

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.85/gal

+2% in Concord, NH

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

27.0

15.9

+41% in Concord, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$21.67

$22.16

+2% in Davenport, IA

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.66

+14% in Concord, NH

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Davenport, IA

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.77

+2% in Concord, NH

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$2.10

+4% in Concord, NH

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Concord, NH

Average prices — Northeast vs Midwest (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NH / IA)

None

+6.0 pp in IA

Income Tax (top rate)

None

3.80%

+3.8 pp in IA

Concord vs Davenport — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Concord or Davenport?: Davenport, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 32% below Concord, NH's $1,410, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Concord than in Davenport?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Concord versus $31,000 in Davenport.
Which has lower taxes, Concord or Davenport?: Concord is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Davenport under Iowa's (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).