Davenport, Iowa: Places to Live and Mortgage Lenders to help you get there

The city of Davenport is located along the banks of the Mississippi River bordering the states of Iowa and Illinois.  Davenport is one of the four cities comprising what is known as the Quad Cities area which also includes the cities of Bettendorf, IA as well as Moline, IL and Rock Island, IL.  

The city is located approximately half way between Chicago, IL and Des Moines, IA and is 170 miles west of Chicago and 170 miles east of the city of Des Moines, Iowa’s state capital.   Davenport, located in Scott County, is surrounded by farmland outside of the Quad Cities proper and is Iowa’s third largest city by population, just under 100,000.  

Davenport has the unusual distinction of being the only location on the Mississippi River where the River flows from east to west and it is the largest city bordering the Mississippi which lacks a permanent levy protecting it from flooding. The infamous Tornado Alley has Davenport clearly in its path, yet surprisingly no significant tornado as ever struck Davenport.  Weather in Davenport normally ranges from highs in mid 80s in July to lows of minus 10 in January.  

Iowa’s unemployment rate has been lower than that of the national average and is currently at 4.1%.   The Quad Cities, of which Davenport is one quarter, was ranked several years ago among the fastest growing areas in the nation in high-tech job growth.  Agricultural equipment giant John Deere is the Quad Cities largest employer, their global headquarters is located in Moline, IL, followed by the Rock Island Arsenal, which is the government’s largest weapons manufacturing plant in the U.S.  Other notable employers in the area include, Genesis Health System and Trinity Regional Health System.  Elevator manufacturer KONE and aluminum maker Alcoa are sizeable employers located in the area as well as the large regional grocery chain Hy-Vee.

The city has also been recognized by the U.S. Conference of Mayors as a winner of the Livability award and has also been ranked as one of the most affordable metro areas by Forbes as well as one of the top ten most affordable housing locations in the country by CNN Money.  The cost of living in Davenport is 14% below the national average with the median home price just below $115,000 and median family household income at just under $51,000.

Some Davenport neighborhoods date back to the mid-1800s and were primarily established by German immigrants.  The architectural style of these neighborhoods reflects their European heritage in the Victorian and Tudor style.  The city is comprised of five main areas including central, downtown, east, near north and northwest and west end.   

The city’s cultural highlights include the Figge Art Museum, an architectural gem located on the banks of the Mississippi River and home to the National Center for Midwest Art and Design, as well as the Putnam Museum which was one of the first museums established west of the Mississippi.  The 100 year old Quad Cities Symphony Orchestra in addition to the River Center/Adler Theater and River Music Experience are available for music and theater lovers in the city.  Davenport is host to several annual music festivals, including the famous Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival and the Mississippi Valley Blues Festival.  The German American Heritage Center is also a prominent city landmark.   The city hosts the minor league baseball team, the Quad Cities River Bandits, at Modern Woodmen Park.  Several universities call Davenport home, the famed Palmer College of Chiropractic and Saint Ambrose University.

If you have found a home in Davenport to purchase feel free to use our handy form below to get access to dozens of lenders offering mortgages for properties located in Davenport, Iowa. This form works for both home purchase mortgages and refinances.