Firstly why Cedar-Rapids, Iowa?

I’ll start with some quick stats and an overview:

• City: Cedar-Rapids
• State: Iowa
• Population: 136,463 people
• Cedar-Rapids’s quick summary would be Celebrated for its rich cultural scene, including the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art.

Some people I know rave about this place, others say it’s on the upswing or going through changes. Check out these migration details:

• How many people move-in: 8,000 annually
• While this many move-out: 9,000 annually
• Net Migration: -1000 less people annual change
• Non-Citizen Move-in: 400
• Number of Homeless people: 250

You might wonder why people choose to move here, I’d say generally because it features a growing economy and family-friendly atmosphere appealing to families

Perk #1: Cedar-Rapids Demographic Mix & Lifestyle

• The percentage of Residents Age 30–50 is about 34%
• Percentage of Home Ownership is hovering around 67%
• Largest Local Ethnic Group is White
• The 2nd Largest Ethnic Group is mostly Hispanic
• The median income is (and growing)  $67,000
• Income Required to Live Comfortably in Cedar-Rapids is $70,000
• Average Extra Spending Money after paying bills yearly is approx. $3000 in positive cash flow

This and any cities local population can be a real melting pot—or sometimes it’s more homogeneous, depending on the area. Ask yourself: would you enjoy a bustling community with diverse backgrounds, or do you prefer a quieter, tight-knit vibe?

Perk #2: Housing & Cedar-Rapids’s Cost of Living

• Cost of Living Index: 95 (100 is the US average)
• Annual Property Tax Per House: $2,576
• Property Tax %: 1.55%
• Rent for an average 2BD Apartment: $1,050
• Rent for an average house: $1,500
• Popular and Expensive Neighborhood: Cedar Hills
• Top 5 Growing Areas: Cedar-Rapids, Marion, Hiawatha, Robins, and probably could include Palo
• Avg. Age of Homes in Cedar-Rapids: 66 years
• The Percentage of Realtors per 100 people here: 1.5%

If the cost-of-living index is low, you might find a place without selling your kidney. If it’s high, well, you’ll need to budget carefully. Some income earners thrive in pricey markets, others prefer less financially stressful areas.

Perk #3: Job Market & Cedar-Rapids’s Economy

• 3 Industries gaining traction in Cedar-Rapids are  Manufacturing, Education, and Healthcare
• Cedar-Rapids Job Scene: growing job market primarily in manufacturing and tech
• The General Tech Scene: modest tech presence primarily in manufacturing and telecommunications , ,
• Cedar-Rapids Resident’s pay $1,000 in City Tax alone!
• Local Sales Tax in Cedar-Rapids: 7%
• No. of Independent Businesses: 140 (excluding chains and corporates)
• Number of Local Branch Banks: 12

Maybe you’re a go-getter in finance, tech, or healthcare. Or you’d rather open a mom-and-pop shop. Either way, it’s worth checking if the local industries align with your skill set—or if you’re game to try something new.

Perk #4: Transportation & Commuting in Cedar-Rapids

• Monthly Transportation Costs: $95 on average per person
• Freeway Access: I-380 provides direct access to Cedar Rapids from I-80
• Commute Time: 22 minutes (public & private)
• Main Evening Traffic Area: heavy traffic on Collins Road
• Transportation Score: 35 out of 100 described as Some Transit
• No. of Vehicles Registered in Cedar-Rapids: 67,000
• Cars registered per Person: 0.5
• No. of Car Washes: 3 in and around the city
• DMV Website for Cedar-Rapids: iowadot.gov/mvd
• The Bike-Friendly Score: 65 of 100
• Local Airport: The Eastern Iowa

Is a 15-minute commute your dream, or is 45 minutes stuck on the freeway a dealbreaker? If you can handle traffic or love public transit, this might be perfect. If not, brace yourself with a killer podcast lineup.

Perk #5: Cedar-Rapids’s Weather & Natural Factors

• The Most Common Natural Disaster is Flooding
• General Weather in Cedar-Rapids is best described as has a climate characterized by hot summers with highs often exceeding 80°F cold winters that bring snow events and comfortable spring and fall seasons the transition between which can be quite beautiful
• Winter Weather in Cedar-Rapids i’d describe as cold with snowy conditions
• Spring Weather in Cedar-Rapids can be described as cool with some rain
• Summer’s in Cedar-Rapids are mostly warm and humid
• Fall ( the nicest time) in Cedar-Rapids is usually cool with sunny days
• How many days in a row over 90°F: 90 days in summer
• Days in a row in Cedar-Rapids below Freezing: 26
• Average Annual Rainfall: 36 inches
• Summer Air Quality is usually moderate air quality with local emissions affecting it
• Cedar-Rapids Winter Air generally good air quality with minor fluctuations

Do you live for sunny skies? Or maybe you can’t stand humidity. Some relish snowy winters; others run south at the first snowflake. And if hurricanes, tornadoes, or earthquakes are part of the package, put all that into your consideration matrix.

Perk #6: Cedar-Rapids Education & Schools

• The GreatSchools.org City Rating:
• Number of Colleges and Universities in Cedar-Rapids 4
• While the number of trade schools inside Cedar-Rapidss’s city limits are 1
• Library that I have visited and enjoyed is the Cedar Rapids Public Library

If you’ve got kids—or you’re looking to further your own education—solid school ratings and local colleges can be a huge perk. If not, hey, a good library have more gems that you didn’t know existed, check it out.

Perk #7: Healthcare & Cedar-Rapids Stats

• Typical EMS Response Time: 8 minutes
• Registered Full-Time Cedar-Rapids only Doctors is about 50
• Local Hospitals here is  5
• Full-time Cedar-Rapids only Police Officers is about 100
• Crime Rate Index: 30/100

Medical facilities could be important to you and who knows it could be related to the crime stats. Again some stats that are worth considering.

Perk #8: Utilities, Gyms & Water Quality

• Cedar-Rapids’s Monthly utility bill average is $95
• Cedar-Rapids’s Monthly Gym Membership: $40
• Cedar-Rapids’s Water Quality Score: 69

Some of us freak out if water tastes off, others don’t mind. Gym buffs will appreciate a cheap membership; others prefer running outside for free. Check if these monthly costs fit inside your realistic lifestyle.

Perk #9: Events, Festivals & Vibe in Cedar-Rapids

• Approx number of Festivals the city puts on is 5 annually
• The General Local City Vibe: community-focused city with parks and recreational opportunities
• You might enjoy performances at the Paramount Theatre
• Nightlife Scene (yes this is completely subjective), Cedar-Rapids  has a friendly nightlife with local bars and restaurants that cater to families and friends alike

If you love a lively social calendar—fairs, concerts, maybe the odd chili cook-off—this is your jam. If crowds make you itch, you might only show up for the funnel cakes.

Perk #10: The Food, Sports & Culture of Cedar-Rapids

• The Objective Restaurant Scene Offers a variety of casual dining options and local favorites
• The Number of Independent Restaurants are 20 scattered around Cedar-Rapids
• The Popular Sports Team is Cedar Rapids Kernels
• Top Level Political Climate in Cedar-Rapids can be described as moderately conservative community with strong local roots
• Cedar-Rapids’s Longer standing religious establishment is Cedar Rapids United Methodist Church

Whether you’re a foodie wanting fancy cuisine or a sports nut who can’t miss the local team’s home game, see if your interests line up with what the city offers.

Perk #11: Cedar-Rapids Parks & Green Spaces

• Did you know Cedar-Rapids has 25 Parks?
• Cedar Rapids Park is Cedar-Rapids’s Green Space Center
• The local favorite Farmers Market is Cedar Rapids Farmers Market normally open Saturday 7am-12pm
• Outdoor Activities that both weekend warriors are pro’s can enjoy are Hiking, cycling, and fishing

Love fresh air? A city investing in parks and markets can be a sanity-saver. If you prefer the indoors, maybe it’s less of a draw—but I still say fresh produce is never a bad thing.

Perk #12: Cedar-Rapids Neighborhoods Pace & Proximity

• The Pace of Life in Cedar-Rapids can be described as moderate pace with a blend of industry and community focus
• 3 Family-Friendly Activities anyone can enjoy in Cedar-Rapids hiking trails attending local sports exploring parks
• The Cities people commute to from Cedar-Rapids are Marion 5 miles away Iowa-City 26 miles away Hiawatha 8 miles away

Neighborhood pace can range from laid-back suburbs to frantic downtown vibes. If you need a quick getaway, big neighboring cities can scratch that itch for a weekend change of scene.

8 Drawbacks about Cedar-Rapids or are they?

No place is perfect. I rate these as important based on your location and type of work you do. They might not be negatives or positives for everyone.

1. Traffic/Commute Issues
   Maybe you read: heavy traffic on Collins Road. If you hate gridlock, look at alternative routes or brace yourself with podcasts.
2. Natural Disaster or Extreme Weather
   Cedar-Rapids’s Flooding risk could be minimal or major. Dig more on that is your eyebrow just went up.
3. Pricey Neighborhoods
   If Cedar Hills is out of your price point, you might consider these places nearby Cedar-Rapids are Marion 5 miles away Iowa-City 26 miles away Hiawatha 8 miles away.
4. Crime Rate Concerns
   With a 30 of 100, some neighborhoods might feel safer than others. Everyone has a different tolerance for this.
5. Harsh Climate Contrasts
   Cedar-Rapids has 26 days in a row below freezing and 90 days above 90 degrees. This might be your heaven or your nightmare. Some people can’t stand snow, while others pray for it.
6. Limited Extra Funds
   After general costs of living here in Cedar-Rapids people have an average (positive or negative) $3000 in positive cash flow left over in income to spend or pay off. Economics will make or break you here.
7. Homelessness or Social Challenges
   250 homeless people living in Cedar-Rapids. It can be tough for the community—no easy solutions.
8. Cultural/Political Mismatch
   The general moderately conservative community with strong local roots could change but probably not quickly. We all go thru cycles in our lifestyle and outlook. Think about this and your future outlook before a move to Cedar-Rapids.

Retiree & Senior Life in Cedar-Rapids

• Retiree Tax Benefits say seniors can can access property tax relief programs assisting with living expenses
• The most established Senior Citizen Community is The Willows
• Cedar Rapids Senior Center provides social services health workshops and recreational activities

If you’re in (or nearing) retirement, see if the city provides property tax breaks or comfy 55+ communities. Some places cater heavily to seniors, others less so.

Moving to Cedar-Rapids, Iowa?

If Cedar-Rapids, Iowa ir your next home or you are packing up, Let Allied Van Lines Help

As someone who’s hauled half his life across state lines more times than I can recall, let me say that Allied Van Lines simplifies the process. From big bulky couches to fragile antiques, they’ve got you covered.

A quick quote or phone call might be all you need to turn your daydream into reality. If you see me around Cedar-Rapids, Iowa, say hi—I’m the guy who once moved with nothing but a backpack and a guitar. Good luck on your new adventure!