Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Austin, TX
VS
Cedar Rapids, IA
🏆 Cedar Rapids leads 14 of 23 categories
Austin
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$86,556 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High
Population
958,202 ✓ 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.
Austin, TX
Pros
Households earn $19,661 more per year on average
More college-educated — 56.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 28°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $461,500
Higher rents — median is $1,549/mo
Violent crime (466.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3241.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cedar Rapids, IA
Pros
Homes cost $294k less ($167,900 vs $461,500)
Rent averages $663/mo less ($886 vs $1,549)
44% less violent crime than Austin
Violent crime is well below the national average (261.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (3.9%)
Cons
Median income trails Austin by $19,661/yr
Property crime (2689.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Austin
Median Income
$19,661
$86,556 vs $66,895/yr
Austin
Summer Heat
13.8°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 82.8°F
Cedar Rapids
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
Cedar Rapids
Violent Crime
44% lower
261.5 vs 466.9 per 100k
Cedar Rapids
Median Home Value
$294k less
$167,900 vs $461,500
Cedar Rapids
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
3.9% vs 4.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | Cedar Rapids, IA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $461,500⚠ High | $167,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,549⚠ High | $886 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,556 ✓ Higher | $66,895 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min | 17.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.9% ✓ Higher | 10.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AUSTIN ISD | Cedar Rapids Comm School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 27.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 82.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 35.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 34.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 958,202 ✓ Larger | 136,929 |
| Median Age | 34.2 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 69.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Cedar Rapids's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Cedar Rapids is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cedar Rapids leads 14 of 23 categories. Austin 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 Austin to Cedar Rapids or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($461,500 vs $167,900 median home), income ($86,556 vs $66,895), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Austin, TX and Cedar Rapids, IA are about 874 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.