Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Atlanta, GA
VS
Cedar Rapids, IA
🏆 Cedar Rapids leads 14 of 23 categories
Atlanta
Georgia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,655 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
221⚠ High
Population
494,838 ✓ Larger
Cedar Rapids
Iowa
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,895
Violent Crime Index
69 ✓ Safer
Population
136,929
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Atlanta, GA
Pros
More college-educated — 57.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $10,760 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 28°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $395,600
Higher rents — median is $1,512/mo
Violent crime (840.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3748.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cedar Rapids, IA
Pros
Homes cost $228k less ($167,900 vs $395,600)
Rent averages $626/mo less ($886 vs $1,512)
69% less violent crime than Atlanta
Violent crime is well below the national average (261.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (3.9%)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Atlanta by $10,760/yr
Property crime (2689.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Atlanta
Median Income
$10,760
$77,655 vs $66,895/yr
Atlanta
Summer Heat
7.2°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 82.8°F
Cedar Rapids
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Cedar Rapids
Violent Crime
69% lower
261.5 vs 840.6 per 100k
Cedar Rapids
Median Home Value
$228k less
$167,900 vs $395,600
Cedar Rapids
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
3.9% vs 5.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Atlanta, GA | Cedar Rapids, IA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $395,600⚠ High | $167,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,512⚠ High | $886 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,655 ✓ Higher | $66,895 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min | 17.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 10.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 204⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 221⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.3% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Atlanta Public Schools | Cedar Rapids Comm School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 53.7°F ✓ Warmer | 27.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer | 82.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" | 35.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" ✓ Less | 34.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 494,838 ✓ Larger | 136,929 |
| Median Age | 33.6 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.7% | 69.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.2% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Atlanta's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Cedar Rapids's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Cedar Rapids is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cedar Rapids leads 14 of 23 categories. Atlanta wins 9 and Cedar Rapids wins 14. 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 Atlanta to Cedar Rapids or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($395,600 vs $167,900 median home), income ($77,655 vs $66,895), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Atlanta, GA and Cedar Rapids, IA are about 691 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.