Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buffalo, NY
VS
Cedar Rapids, IA
🏆 Cedar Rapids leads 18 of 23 categories
Buffalo
New York
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4
Median Household Income
$46,184
Violent Crime Index
186⚠ High
Population
276,688 ✓ Larger
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
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Buffalo, NY
Pros
Homes cost $36k less ($132,100 vs $167,900)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Smaller class sizes — 10.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Cedar Rapids by $20,711/yr
Violent crime (706.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3809.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.0% vs 3.9%)
Cedar Rapids, IA
Pros
63% less violent crime than Buffalo
Households earn $20,711 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (3.9%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (261.5 vs 380/100k)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Buffalo
Cons
Property crime (2689.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Buffalo
Median Home Value
$36k less
$132,100 vs $167,900
Cedar Rapids
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 94.4 (100 = US avg)
Cedar Rapids
Median Income
$20,711
$66,895 vs $46,184/yr
Cedar Rapids
Violent Crime
63% lower
261.5 vs 706.2 per 100k
Cedar Rapids
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
3.9% vs 7.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buffalo, NY | Cedar Rapids, IA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.4 | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $132,100 ✓ Lower | $167,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $942 | $886 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,184 | $66,895 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min | 17.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% | 10.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 184⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 186⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% | 32.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.2% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Cedar Rapids Comm School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.1°F ✓ Warmer | 27.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 80.2°F | 82.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" | 35.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 95.4" | 34.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 276,688 ✓ Larger | 136,929 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.6% | 69.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.3% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buffalo's cost of living index is 94.4 vs Cedar Rapids's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Cedar Rapids is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cedar Rapids leads 18 of 23 categories. Buffalo 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 Buffalo to Cedar Rapids or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($132,100 vs $167,900 median home), income ($46,184 vs $66,895), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buffalo, NY and Cedar Rapids, IA are about 656 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.