Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
Cedar Rapids, IA
🏆 Cedar Rapids leads 15 of 23 categories
Athens-Clarke County
Georgia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$47,798
Violent Crime Index
107⚠ High
Population
126,672
Cedar Rapids
Iowa
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,895 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
69 ✓ Safer
Population
136,929 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Athens-Clarke County, GA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 28°F
More college-educated — 48.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Smaller class sizes — 10.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Cedar Rapids by $19,097/yr
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 3.9%)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Cedar Rapids
Cedar Rapids, IA
Pros
Homes cost $74k less ($167,900 vs $242,300)
36% less violent crime than Athens-Clarke County
Households earn $19,097 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (261.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (3.9%)
Rent averages $159/mo less ($886 vs $1,045)
Cons
Property crime (2689.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Athens-Clarke County
Summer Heat
9.2°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 82.8°F
Cedar Rapids
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
Cedar Rapids
Median Income
$19,097
$66,895 vs $47,798/yr
Cedar Rapids
Violent Crime
36% lower
261.5 vs 406.1 per 100k
Cedar Rapids
Median Home Value
$74k less
$167,900 vs $242,300
Cedar Rapids
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
3.9% vs 5.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | Cedar Rapids, IA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $242,300 | $167,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 | $886 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 | $66,895 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min | 17.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% ✓ Higher | 10.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 128⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | Cedar Rapids Comm School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer | 27.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 82.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" | 35.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" ✓ Less | 34.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 | 136,929 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 69.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Cedar Rapids's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Cedar Rapids is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cedar Rapids leads 15 of 23 categories. Athens-Clarke County wins 8 and Cedar Rapids wins 15. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Athens-Clarke County to Cedar Rapids or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $167,900 median home), income ($47,798 vs $66,895), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and Cedar Rapids, IA are about 715 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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