What it's like to live in Cedar Rapids
Cedar Rapids is a mid-size city in Iowa with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and schools with class sizes near the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Cedar Rapids deals with air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, cold, harsh winters, and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Short commutes
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Air quality concerns
- Cold, harsh winters
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Cedar Rapids compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Cedar Rapids
Based on Cedar Rapids's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$1,934
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $38,680 a year
- 43% of Cedar Rapids renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$37,420
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $18,710
- Homes cost 2.7× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 32% below US
$967/mo median rent
Rent here is genuinely low, with median rent around $967 a month. Factoring in local incomes, the value gets even better. Money stretches further here than in most of the country. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $187,100. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.
Median home value $187,100 · 43% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
4.0% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.0%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 19% below US
265 violent crimes per 100k
Crime runs about typical for a city this size. Some neighborhoods are safer than others, and one overall rate doesn't tell the whole story, so a neighborhood-level look matters more than the headline stat.
Property crime 2135/100k · Cedar Rapids Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 28% below US
19 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 18.6 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 13% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 81°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 15°F.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
2 hospitals
There are 2 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 4.0 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforceNear US average
33% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 33% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
44 public schools inside the boundary
There are 44 public schools inside the boundary and 10 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15:1, close to the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Herbert Hoover National Historic Site (27 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Cedar Rapids's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are air quality that falls short of national benchmarks and cold, harsh winters. A year of median rent ($967/mo) equals 16% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive and anyone who dislikes long, cold winters.
Other places near Cedar Rapids
All Iowa guides →Moving to North Liberty →
16 mi away · pop. 21,125
Rent $1,246/mo · Income $102,102
Compare with Cedar Rapids →Moving to Coralville →
19 mi away · pop. 23,234
Rent $1,057/mo · Income $69,144
Compare with Cedar Rapids →Moving to Iowa City →
23 mi away · pop. 75,752
Rent $1,094/mo · Income $58,546
Compare with Cedar Rapids →Not sure Cedar Rapids is the one?
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