Cedar Rapids vs Des Moines
Cedar Rapids, Iowa versus Des Moines, Iowa: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Cedar Rapids edges out Des Moines on overall objective livability (47 vs 42 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Cedar Rapids | Des Moines |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $67k | $62k |
| Cost of Living | $43k | $47k |
| Home Value | $168k | $171k |
| Monthly Rent | $886 | $995 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $1k | $1k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.76% | 1.96% |
| Income Tax | 6.00% | 6.00% |
| Sales Tax | 6.94% | 6.94% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 12.70% | 13.64% |
| Unemployment | 3.9% | 5.9% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 20°F | 22°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 74°F | 75°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9 in | 36.6 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3 in | 36.5 in |
| Sunny Days | 245 days | 194 days |
| Summer Humidity | 65°F | 65°F |
| Comfortable Days | 93 days | 87 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 41.5 | 16.8 |
| Air Quality | 57 AQI | 52 AQI |
| School Quality | 66.0 | 57.6 |
| Violent Crime | 1540/100k | 1581/100k |
| Property Crime | 3069/100k | 2184/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 136,929 | 213,164 |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 34.4 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.33 | 0.49 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.99 | 0.98 |
| Political Leaning | D+14 | D+16 |
| White (%) | 78.5% | 63.4% |
| Black (%) | 8.4% | 11.4% |
| Hispanic (%) | 4.3% | 14.3% |
| Asian (%) | 2.7% | 6.5% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 6.1% | 4.3% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 18 min | 20 min |
| Walkability | 15.6/20 | 12.3/20 |
| Airport Distance | 193 mi | 120 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 90.1% | 86.4% |
| Amenities Nearby | 27.90 | 17.45 |
| Park & Nature Access | Good | Good |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Cedar Rapids or Des Moines more affordable?
- Cedar Rapids has the lower cost of living: its index is $43k, compared with Cedar Rapids's $43k and Des Moines's $47k. Median rent is $886 in Cedar Rapids versus $995 in Des Moines.
- Is Cedar Rapids or Des Moines safer?
- Cedar Rapids has the lower violent crime rate. Cedar Rapids reports 1540/100k and Des Moines reports 1581/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Cedar Rapids or Des Moines?
- The median home value is $168k in Cedar Rapids and $171k in Des Moines, so homes are more affordable in Cedar Rapids.