Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bridgeport, CT
VS
Cedar Rapids, IA
🏆 Cedar Rapids leads 16 of 23 categories
Bridgeport
Connecticut
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,440
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High
Population
148,470 ✓ Larger
Cedar Rapids
Iowa
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,895 ✓ Higher
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.
Bridgeport, CT
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 28°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,369/mo
Median income trails Cedar Rapids by $12,455/yr
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Cedar Rapids
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 3.9%)
Cedar Rapids, IA
Pros
Rent averages $483/mo less ($886 vs $1,369)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.6 pts lower (3.9%)
33% less violent crime than Bridgeport
Homes cost $59k less ($167,900 vs $227,200)
Households earn $12,455 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (261.5 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Property crime (2689.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Cedar Rapids
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Cedar Rapids
Median Income
$12,455
$66,895 vs $54,440/yr
Cedar Rapids
Violent Crime
33% lower
261.5 vs 392.9 per 100k
Cedar Rapids
Median Home Value
$59k less
$167,900 vs $227,200
Cedar Rapids
Unemployment
5.6 pp lower
3.9% vs 9.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bridgeport, CT | Cedar Rapids, IA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.5⚠ High | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $227,200 | $167,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High | $886 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,440 | $66,895 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5%⚠ High | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.9 min⚠ High | 17.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.0% | 10.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 90 ✓ Safer | 93 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 128⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.7% | 32.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.0% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bridgeport School District | Cedar Rapids Comm School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F ✓ Warmer | 27.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.4°F ✓ Warmer | 82.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" | 35.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" ✓ Less | 34.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 148,470 ✓ Larger | 136,929 |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 37.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.2% | 69.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bridgeport's cost of living index is 106.5 vs Cedar Rapids's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Cedar Rapids is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cedar Rapids leads 16 of 23 categories. Bridgeport wins 7 and Cedar Rapids wins 16. 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 Bridgeport to Cedar Rapids or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($227,200 vs $167,900 median home), income ($54,440 vs $66,895), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bridgeport, CT and Cedar Rapids, IA are about 955 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.