If you’re looking for a new place to call your home, you may want to consider moving to Cedar Rapids, IA.
The largest corn processing center is located in Cedar Rapids, IA.
But, if that isn’t impressive enough, there are many other things that the city has to offer.
However, before you make your final decision, it’s important that you consider both the pros and cons of living in Cedar Rapids, IA.
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Pros of Living in Cedar Rapids, IA
Here are some of the best things about living in Cedar Rapids, IA:
1. Affordable Living
The average cost of homes in Cedar Rapids is $187,000.
Furthermore, residents who live here report an excellent quality of life.
Cedar Rapids has a lot to offer including golf courses, swimming pools, museums, theaters, and even a couple of major hospitals.
Also, Cedar Rapids has excellent transportation, high-quality schools, and much more to offer for those wishing to relocate here.
2. Top-Notch Education
As mentioned earlier, Cedar Rapids, IA offers students a high-quality education.
Cedar Rapids offers plenty of education options for those looking for higher learning.
For example, the student population for students ages 25 and older is 95%.
This is higher compared to the national average of 88.2%.
Furthermore, many high school graduates are choosing to remain in town for colleges and universities because of the wonderful options offered.
For example, some of the best local universities include Mount Mercy University and the University of Iowa.
3. Various Career Opportunities
Cedar Rapids, IA has a thriving job market.
Approximately 24 Fortune 500 companies are located here including Nordstrom, General Mills, Whirlpool, and Cargill.
Additionally, there are more than 300 manufacturing plants located in Cedar Rapids.
If your job is in the finance or insurance industry, you can rest assured that finding a job here won’t be difficult.
Finally, Cedar Rapids also has plenty of other job opportunities available in food and beverage, IT, healthcare, education, and aerospace.
4. Plenty of Things to Do
Cedar Rapids, IA offers plenty of things to do for the entire family.
One of the most frequently visited attractions is the Cedar Rapids Downtown Farmers Market.
This event takes place from June through September, on the first and third Saturdays of each month.
There are also plenty of festivals that take place here, with one occurring on Memorial Day Weekend called Market After Dark.
Also, there are plenty of sporting events and plenty of options for those who like the nightlife scene.
5. Excellent Downtown Area
Cedar Rapids has an excellent downtown scene.
This is mainly due to the fact that it experienced a slight renovation.
Today, the downtown Cedar Rapids area has plenty of newly built housing options, restaurants, theaters, and a magical vibe to go with it.
Whether you’re looking for some time to enjoy happy hour or have dinner on a patio, the downtown area offers it all.
6. Abundant Arts and Culture Scene
Cedar Rapids, IA has ample opportunities for arts and culture.
By living here you will have access to plenty of local concerts, arts programs, and museums to fall in love with.
For example, the Iowa Ceramics Center and Glass Studio provide programs for both adults and children to unleash their creative side.
The Paramount Theater and Orchestra Iowa delivers various entertainment events to residents.
7. Access to Great Healthcare
Another perk of living in Cedar Rapids, IA is that you will have access to some of the best healthcare in the entire nation.
Finding good healthcare is a priority for many families.
You won’t have to worry about traveling outside your local area to find quality healthcare.
Additionally, Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids ranks number one among top hospitals in the state.
8. Recreational Opportunities
Cedar Rapids offers many recreational activities for your family.
Overall, there are 74 parks, six public swimming pools, and four golf courses for you to enjoy.
Furthermore, residents can take advantage of kayaking and fishing at Palisades-Kepler State Park.
If you enjoy running or hiking, Indian Creek Nature Center is the perfect place to do so.
And finally, for those looking for a private golf course, you can attain a membership at Cedar Rapids Country Club.
Cons of Living in Cedar Rapids, IA
1. Cold Winter Weather
Cedar Rapids can see some pretty cold temperatures during the winter.
Average temperatures are around 34 degrees.
They, can, however, fall below 11 degrees, although it’s rare.
The coldest months in Cedar Rapids last from November to March, with January being the coldest month of the year.
Fortunately, for those who don’t like the snow, Cedar Rapids doesn’t get too much of it during the winter.
2. Crime and Safety Rates Could be Better
Cedar Rapids has been rated with a “C” for crime and safety.
While it isn’t terrible, it could be better.
Although the violent crime rates in Cedar Rapids are slightly higher than the national average.
For example, the violent crime rate for assault in Cedar Rapids is 283.5 compared to the national average of 282.7.
Additionally, the murder rate is 7.4 compared to the national average of 6.1.
Property crime rates are also slightly below the national average.
3. Hot Summers
As surprising as it may sound, Cedar Rapids including the rest of the state can get extremely hot in the summer.
On average, highs reach about 90 degrees, which can feel higher when you factor in the humidity levels.
If you’re accustomed to high humidity, of course, this won’t be much of an adjustment for you.
However, if you aren’t used to high humidity, you may want to reconsider living here.
4. No Major League Teams
For sports fans, not having any major league sports teams in the entire state can be a huge issue.
For others, this may not seem as much of a deal breaker.
Simply put, Iowa just doesn’t have a consistent interest level nor do they have the necessary infrastructure to back professional sports teams.
However, Iowa does have minor league sports teams scattered across the state.
5. Limited Public Transportation
While Cedar Rapids does offer a safe and reliable bus service for residents living in the city, public transportation is limited.
It doesn’t compare to major cities across the country.
The city of Cedar Rapids doesn’t have any local public trains.
Amtrak is an option, but that’s for those looking to travel outside the state.
Overall, the only means of public transportation in Cedar Rapids is CR Transit, which consists of about 12 different routes.
6. High Sales Tax Rate
The national average sales tax is 5%.
In Cedar Rapids, IA, the state sales tax is 7%, which is higher than the national average.
This rate combines both county and city sales taxes.
This means that you will pay slightly more when paying for goods and services in the city.
Sales taxes affect all retail purchases.
7. Tornadoes
On average, the state of Iowa sees 48 tornadoes each year.
However, this number can vary.
Cedar Rapids has a higher chance of seeing tornadoes with significant damage compared to the rest of Iowa and the U.S.
This is definitely something to keep in mind when considering whether you should make Cedar Rapids your new home.
8. Flooding
Besides being at high risk for tornadoes, Cedar Rapids is also at high risk for flooding.
This is mainly due to the Cedar River that flows right through the city.
Additionally, Cedar Rapids has many other small creeks and rivers that create issues for flooding.
Approximately, there are 3,935 properties within the city that have an increased risk of being significantly impacted by flooding over the next 3 decades.
Pros and Cons of Living in Cedar Rapids, IA – Summary Table
| Pros of Living in Cedar Rapids, IA | Cons of Living in Cedar Rapids, IA |
|---|---|
| 1. Affordable Living | 1. Cold Winter Weather |
| 2. Top-Notch Education | 2. Crime and Safety Rates Could be Better |
| 3. Various Career Opportunities | 3. Hot Summers |
| 4. Plenty of Things to Do | 4. No Major League Teams |
| 5. Excellent Downtown Area | 5. Limited Public Transportation |
| 6. Abundant Arts and Culture Scene | 6. High Sales Tax Rate |
| 7. Access to Great Healthcare | 7. Tornadoes |
| 8. Recreational Opportunities | 8. Flooding |
Cedar Rapids Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Cedar Rapids Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: LOW
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
- MUGGING RISK: LOW
- TERRORISM RISK: LOW
- SCAMS RISK: LOW
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some great neighborhoods to live in Cedar Rapids, IA?
Cedar Rapids is full of rich history with plenty of entertainment and amenities.
Some neighborhoods to consider in Cedar Rapids are:
- New Bohemia & Czech Village
- Otis
- Covington
- Cedar Hills
- New Buffalo
What is Cedar Rapids, IA known for?
There are nearly 300 manufacturing companies located in Cedar Rapids.
Additionally, there are about 24 Fortune 500 companies located here such as AEGON, Cargill, Quaker Oats, and Archer Daniels Midland.
How many schools are located within Cedar Rapids, IA?
In total, there are more than 17,263 students that attend the various schools in the city of Cedar Rapids.
There are four high schools, six middle schools, and a total of 24 elementary schools in town.
Additionally, there are a few universities.
Overall, is Cedar Rapids, IA a great place to relocate to?
Cedar Rapids is considered one of the best and safest places to live in the entire nation.
It was ranked as one of the top 100 finest cities to live in the United States in 2023.
Various factors were taken into consideration to determine whether a particular city was good to live in.
These factors include transportation, cost of living, economic strength, education, air quality, and several others.
Cedar Rapids made number 50 on the list.
Also, the city of Cedar Rapids earned higher rankings compared to other towns in Iowa when considering diversity, the economy, and employment.
What are some interesting facts about Cedar Rapids, IA?
Cedar Rapids, IA was nicknamed “City of Five Seasons.”
Instead of four seasons, like most places, Cedar Rapids has five seasons to give ample time for residents to enjoy the main four.
Additionally, Cedar Rapids has the largest corn processing center located in the city.
Some of the bigger processing plants are General Mills and Quaker Oats.
It gets cold in winter, but really that’s the only con I found after living here for the last 5 years, I moved because of a job opportunity and I still work at this job. I am trying to convince my sister to come live here as well.
Cedar Rapids, IA offers affordable living, top-notch education, various career opportunities, plenty of things to do, an excellent downtown area, abundant arts and culture, access to great healthcare, and recreational opportunities, but also has cold winter weather, average crime and safety rates, hot summers, no major league teams, limited public transportation, high sales tax rate, a high risk for tornadoes and flooding.