Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Beaumont, TX
VS
Cedar Rapids, IA
🏆 Cedar Rapids leads 18 of 23 categories
Beaumont
Texas
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.2
Median Household Income
$53,745
Violent Crime Index
299⚠ High
Population
114,573
Cedar Rapids
Iowa
18
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.
Beaumont, TX
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 28°F
Homes cost $18k less ($150,400 vs $167,900)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.2)
Cons
Violent crime (1137.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Cedar Rapids by $13,150/yr
Property crime (3302.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 3.9%)
Cedar Rapids, IA
Pros
77% less violent crime than Beaumont
Households earn $13,150 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (261.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (3.9%)
Rent averages $106/mo less ($886 vs $992)
More college-educated — 32.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Property crime (2689.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Beaumont
Median Home Value
$18k less
$150,400 vs $167,900
Beaumont
Summer Heat
9.2°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 82.8°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 90.2 on the COL index
Cedar Rapids
Median Income
$13,150
$66,895 vs $53,745/yr
Cedar Rapids
Violent Crime
77% lower
261.5 vs 1137.3 per 100k
Cedar Rapids
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
3.9% vs 5.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Beaumont, TX | Cedar Rapids, IA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.2 | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $150,400 ✓ Lower | $167,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $992 | $886 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,745 | $66,895 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.7 min | 17.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 3.6% | 10.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 242⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 299⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.9:1 | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.8% | 32.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.2% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BEAUMONT ISD | Cedar Rapids Comm School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.6°F ✓ Warmer | 27.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 82.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.1" | 35.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 34.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,573 | 136,929 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.4% | 69.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 15.9% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Beaumont's cost of living index is 90.2 vs Cedar Rapids's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Cedar Rapids is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cedar Rapids leads 18 of 23 categories. Beaumont wins 5 and Cedar Rapids wins 18. 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 Beaumont to Cedar Rapids or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($150,400 vs $167,900 median home), income ($53,745 vs $66,895), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Beaumont, TX and Cedar Rapids, IA are about 832 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.