City comparison
Davenport, IA vs Jackson, MS
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Davenport, IA (89.1) and Jackson, MS (89.0, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Davenport, IA goes as far as $100,000 in Jackson, MS.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,097 a month in Jackson, MS versus $928 in Davenport, IA. On $100,000, that's 17% of take-home pay in Jackson, MS and 15% in Davenport, IA.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $3,148 a year in IA and $3,268 in MS.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −1.6% moving from Davenport, IA to Jackson, MS ($108,137 → $106,437), while prices change by −0.0%. Net effect of the transfer: −1.5% in real buying power.
- Davenport, IA: price level 89.1 (much cheaper)
- Jackson, MS: price level 89.0 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Davenport, IA | Jackson, MS | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 89.1 | 89.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,965 in Jackson | $100,035 in Davenport |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $928/mo | $1,097/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,032 | $75,912 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,148 (IA) | $3,268 (MS) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 15% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,550 | $42,850 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Davenport-Moline, IA-IL | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL MSA and Jackson, MS HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL and Jackson, MS.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Davenport | Jackson |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 68.3 | 64.8 |
| Goods | 94.2 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 89.9 | 78.1 |
| Other services | 93.5 | 96.1 |
| Overall | 89.1 | 89.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Davenport, IA → Jackson, MS
Roughly even
Buying power +0.0%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$120/yr.
69 Fair offer
Jackson, MS → Davenport, IA
Roughly even
Buying power −0.0%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$120/yr.
69 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Davenport, IA is in the Davenport-Moline, IA-IL pay area; Jackson, MS is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Davenport, IA to Jackson, MS at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Davenport, IA | Jackson, MS | Real change, Davenport → Jackson |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,708 | $61,722 | −1.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,871 | $74,678 | −1.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,937 | $89,508 | −1.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $108,137 | $106,437 | −1.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $127,786 | $125,776 | −1.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Davenport, IA | Jackson, MS | Jackson pay in Davenport dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,650 | $50,240 | $50,257 (−18.5%) |
| Software Developers | $115,780 | $96,990 | $97,024 (−16.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $77,600 | $70,720 | $70,745 (−8.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $77,150 | $82,630 | $82,659 (+7.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.