Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Cedar Rapids, IA
🏆 Cedar Rapids leads 17 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,026
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
91,353
Cedar Rapids
Iowa
17
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.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 28°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 83°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $528,600
Higher rents — median is $1,385/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Cedar Rapids
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cedar Rapids, IA
Pros
Homes cost $361k less ($167,900 vs $528,600)
Rent averages $499/mo less ($886 vs $1,385)
25% less violent crime than Bellingham
Violent crime is well below the national average (261.5 vs 380/100k)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Bellingham
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (3.9%)
Cons
Property crime (2689.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Cedar Rapids
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 104.1 (100 = US avg)
Cedar Rapids
Median Income
$2,869
$66,895 vs $64,026/yr
Cedar Rapids
Violent Crime
25% lower
261.5 vs 350.0 per 100k
Cedar Rapids
Median Home Value
$361k less
$167,900 vs $528,600
Cedar Rapids
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
3.9% vs 4.8% unemployment
Cedar Rapids
Summer Heat
7.7°F warmer
July avg high 82.8°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Cedar Rapids, IA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $167,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High | $886 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 | $66,895 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min | 17.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% ✓ Higher | 10.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 94.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | Cedar Rapids Comm School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F ✓ Warmer | 27.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 82.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" | 35.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" ✓ Less | 34.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 136,929 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 69.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 16.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Cedar Rapids's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Cedar Rapids is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cedar Rapids leads 17 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 6 and Cedar Rapids wins 17. 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 Bellingham to Cedar Rapids or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $167,900 median home), income ($64,026 vs $66,895), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Cedar Rapids, IA are about 1,555 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.