Living in Cedar Rapids, IA
Mid-size city in Iowa
Cedar Rapids is a mid-size city in Iowa, home to about 137,000 people, with 380,000 living within 31 mi. Day to day, most trips are by car. Life moves at a relaxed pace, and homes are mostly houses.
Is Cedar Rapids a good place to live? Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- Affordable housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $217k and rents for $1,490 a month
- Mild summers: highs around 81°F
- Strong healthcare: 7 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
- Low natural disaster risk: 9 federally declared disasters since 2000
👎 Cons
- Fewer outdoor escapes: no big hills or water close by
- Smaller job market: about 380,000 people live within 31 mi
- Higher taxes: about $1,192 state income tax per resident, 1.71% property tax
- Fewer graduates: 33% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher
Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Cedar Rapids ranks against your own priorities.
Key facts
Living in Cedar Rapids: common questions
What is the cost of living in Cedar Rapids?
A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $217k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $1,490 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are below the US average (index 89, where the US is 100).
What are taxes like in Cedar Rapids?
Iowa collects about $1,192 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 1.71% of their home's value in property tax each year.
Is Cedar Rapids safe?
Violent crime is well below the national rate (0.7× in FBI 2019 data).
What is the weather like in Cedar Rapids?
Cedar Rapids has long, snowy winters: winter days average around 31°F and summer days around 81°F, with roughly 34″ of snow a year.
Does Cedar Rapids get natural disasters?
Natural disaster risk is low, mainly from flooding, tornadoes and strong wind: 9 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.68 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.
What is the nearest major airport to Cedar Rapids?
The nearest major airport is DSM, about 106 mi away.
How Cedar Rapids scores
Each bar compares Cedar Rapids with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).
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Is Cedar Rapids right for you?
Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.