Cedar Rapids, IA
Census place 1912000 · pop 137,264
Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 964/100k · worse than most cities
2725 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities
1.73% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities
14.6% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities
Gini 0.45 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median 152/100k · worse than most cities
264 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities
36.3% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median 77/100 · worse than most cities
92/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$70,424 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 42 AQI · worse than most cities
44 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities
17.4% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities
91.2% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 12.1% · better than most cities
10.8% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities
+3.8% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities
33.1% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median 26.5% · better than most cities
23.9% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities
3.4% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 67.2% · better than most cities
68.5% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities
7.2% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities
$187,100 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities
19 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median 1 days · better than most cities
0 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities
$1,246/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).
Frequently asked
- Is Cedar Rapids, IA a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Cedar Rapids scores 54/100 — a D (Meh) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 22 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is rent and its weakest is property crime rate. Iowa overall ranks #11 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- How safe is Cedar Rapids, IA?
- Cedar Rapids reports 264 violent crimes per 100k and 2725 property crimes per 100k — worse than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
- Is Cedar Rapids, IA expensive to live in?
- Cedar Rapids has a median home value of $187,100 and typical rent around $1,246/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Cedar Rapids, IA?
- Its weakest measured area is property crime rate (2725/100k) — 15/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Cedar Rapids, IA best at?
- Its strongest measured area is rent ($1,246/mo) — 85/100, better than most U.S. cities. Fun fact: Home of the Quaker Oats plant, one of the largest cereal mills in the world.
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.