Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cedar Rapids, IA
VS
Conroe, TX
🏆 Cedar Rapids leads 14 of 23 categories
Cedar Rapids
Iowa
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,895
Violent Crime Index
69
Population
136,929 ✓ Larger
Conroe
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,630 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
92,475
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cedar Rapids, IA
Pros
Homes cost $95k less ($167,900 vs $262,500)
Rent averages $369/mo less ($886 vs $1,255)
Violent crime is well below the national average (261.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Conroe
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 95°F
Cons
Property crime (2689.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Conroe by $4,735/yr
Conroe, TX
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.5 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 28°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (3.4%)
Households earn $4,735 more per year on average
Cons
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Cedar Rapids
Key Differences at a Glance
Cedar Rapids
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Cedar Rapids
Median Home Value
$95k less
$167,900 vs $262,500
Conroe
Median Income
$4,735
$71,630 vs $66,895/yr
Conroe
Violent Crime
7% lower
243.5 vs 261.5 per 100k
Conroe
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
3.4% vs 3.9% unemployment
Conroe
Summer Heat
12.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.9°F vs 82.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cedar Rapids, IA | Conroe, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $167,900 ✓ Lower | $262,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $886 ✓ Lower | $1,255 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,895 | $71,630 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.8 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 93 | 70 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% ✓ Higher | 32.2% |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% ✓ Higher | 86.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cedar Rapids Comm School District | CONROE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.9°F | 62.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 94.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" ✓ Drier | 51.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,929 ✓ Larger | 92,475 |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.6% ✓ Higher | 56.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 24.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cedar Rapids's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Conroe's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Cedar Rapids is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cedar Rapids leads 14 of 23 categories. Cedar Rapids wins 14 and Conroe wins 9. 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 Cedar Rapids to Conroe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($167,900 vs $262,500 median home), income ($66,895 vs $71,630), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cedar Rapids, IA and Conroe, TX are about 832 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.