Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cedar Rapids, IA
VS
Elizabeth, NJ
🏆 Cedar Rapids leads 17 of 23 categories
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
Elizabeth
New Jersey
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,939
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
135,665
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cedar Rapids, IA
Pros
Homes cost $191k less ($167,900 vs $358,400)
Rent averages $504/mo less ($886 vs $1,390)
36% less violent crime than Elizabeth
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Elizabeth
Violent crime is well below the national average (261.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (3.9%)
Cons
Property crime (2689.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 40°F vs 28°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $358,400
Higher rents — median is $1,390/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Cedar Rapids
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cedar Rapids
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Cedar Rapids
Median Income
$6,956
$66,895 vs $59,939/yr
Cedar Rapids
Violent Crime
36% lower
261.5 vs 408.7 per 100k
Cedar Rapids
Median Home Value
$191k less
$167,900 vs $358,400
Cedar Rapids
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
3.9% vs 5.9% unemployment
Elizabeth
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 86.9°F vs 82.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cedar Rapids, IA | Elizabeth, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $167,900 ✓ Lower | $358,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $886 ✓ Lower | $1,390⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,895 ✓ Higher | $59,939 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.8 min ✓ Shorter | 26.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 4.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 93 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% ✓ Higher | 14.1% |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% ✓ Higher | 74.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cedar Rapids Comm School District | Elizabeth Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.9°F | 40.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" ✓ Drier | 46.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 31.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,929 ✓ Larger | 135,665 |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 35.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.6% ✓ Higher | 25.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cedar Rapids's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Elizabeth's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Cedar Rapids is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cedar Rapids leads 17 of 23 categories. Cedar Rapids wins 17 and Elizabeth wins 6. 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 Elizabeth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($167,900 vs $358,400 median home), income ($66,895 vs $59,939), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cedar Rapids, IA and Elizabeth, NJ are about 910 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.