Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Among the top 20% of US places for getting around.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade C, better than 43% of US places
WeatherWeather: grade B, better than 64% of US places
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade D, better than 14% of US places
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade B+, better than 80% of US places
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade C, better than 44% of US places
- top 1% for walkability
- top 7% for commute time
- bottom 2% for air quality
Cedar Rapids is a city in Iowa with about 137,000 residents. It grades B+ for getting around and D for safety & wellbeing. Standout strengths include walkability, commute time, and cost of living. It rates lower on property crime and air quality.
Official websitecedar-rapids.org (opens in new tab)
Climate
Warm summers · Cold winters · Moderate rain · Snowy
freez.
v.cold
cold
cool
comf.
warm
cool
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80%56%clearovercast
Precipitation 4.7 in1.3 in
humid 90%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$67k57th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$43kbetter than 85% of US places
Home Value$168k52nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$886better than 53% of US places
Monthly Owner Costs$1kbetter than 45% of US places
Property Tax Rate1.76%better than 16% of US places
Income Tax6.00%better than 29% of US places
Sales Tax6.94%better than 68% of US places
Estimated total tax burden12.70%better than 26% of US places
Unemployment3.9%better than 50% of US places
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)20°F12th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)74°F34th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation35.9 in33rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall34.3 inbetter than 28% of US places
Sunny Days245 daysbetter than 63% of US places
Summer Humidity65°Fbetter than 41% of US places
Comfortable Days93 daysbetter than 76% of US places
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk41.5better than 80% of US places
Air Quality57 AQIbetter than 2% of US places
School Quality66.0better than 61% of US places
Violent Crime1540/100kbetter than 16% of US places
Property Crime3069/100kbetter than 6% of US places
Community
Population136,92999th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age37.031st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.3367th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio0.9953rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningD+1418th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)78.5%40th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)8.4%82nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)4.3%54th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)2.7%84th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)6.1%77th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time18 minbetter than 93% of US places
Walkability15.6/20better than 99% of US places
Airport Distance193 mibetter than 9% of US places
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access90.1%better than 65% of US places
Amenities Nearby27.90better than 27% of US places
Park & Nature AccessGoodbetter than 54% of US places
Similar places
Frequently asked questions
- Is Cedar Rapids an affordable place to live?
- Cedar Rapids is relatively affordable. Its cost-of-living index is $43k, better than 85% of comparable areas.
- What is the median home value in Cedar Rapids?
- The median home value in Cedar Rapids is $168k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- What is the median household income in Cedar Rapids?
- Median household income in Cedar Rapids is $67k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- How much is rent in Cedar Rapids?
- Median gross rent in Cedar Rapids is $886 a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Is Cedar Rapids safe?
- Cedar Rapids is higher-crime than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 1540/100k (better than 16%). Property crime is 3069/100k.
- What is the weather like in Cedar Rapids?
- Cedar Rapids averages 74°F in July and 20°F in January, with 35.9 in of annual precipitation and about 245 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Cedar Rapids?
- Public-school quality in Cedar Rapids is above average, scoring better than 61% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Cedar Rapids?
- The average one-way commute in Cedar Rapids is 18 min.
Other places in Linn County
Places near Cedar Rapids
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Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)