City comparison
Allentown, PA vs Davenport, IA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Allentown, PA are 12.2% higher than in Davenport, IA. Someone earning $100,000 in Davenport, IA would need about $112,200 in Allentown, PA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,341 a month in Allentown, PA versus $928 in Davenport, IA. On $100,000, that's 21% of take-home pay in Allentown, PA and 15% in Davenport, IA.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $3,070 a year in PA and $3,148 in IA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −13.8% moving from Allentown, PA to Davenport, IA ($125,431 → $108,137), while prices change by −10.9%. Net effect of the transfer: −3.2% in real buying power.
- Allentown, PA: price level 100.0 (about average)
- Davenport, IA: price level 89.1 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Allentown, PA | Davenport, IA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.0 | 89.1 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $89,108 in Davenport | $112,224 in Allentown |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,341/mo | $928/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,110 | $76,032 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,070 (PA) | $3,148 (IA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 21% | 15% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,990 | $48,550 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA | Davenport-Moline, IA-IL |
Rent areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA HUD Metro FMR Area and Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL MSA. Metro areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ and Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Allentown | Davenport |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 105.5 | 68.3 |
| Goods | 100.6 | 94.2 |
| Utilities | 107.6 | 89.9 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 93.5 |
| Overall | 100.0 | 89.1 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Allentown, PA → Davenport, IA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +12.2%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax +$78/yr.
100 Strong offer
Davenport, IA → Allentown, PA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −10.9%; rent takes 21% of take-home; state tax −$78/yr.
38 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Allentown, PA is in the New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA pay area; Davenport, IA is in Davenport-Moline, IA-IL. The last column shows what a transfer from Allentown, PA to Davenport, IA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Allentown, PA | Davenport, IA | Real change, Allentown → Davenport |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $72,737 | $62,708 | −3.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $88,005 | $75,871 | −3.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $105,481 | $90,937 | −3.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $125,431 | $108,137 | −3.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $148,222 | $127,786 | −3.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Allentown, PA | Davenport, IA | Davenport pay in Allentown dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,040 | $61,650 | $69,186 (−12.5%) |
| Software Developers | $122,930 | $115,780 | $129,933 (+5.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,430 | $77,600 | $87,086 (+11.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $101,440 | $77,150 | $86,581 (−14.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.