Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cedar Rapids, IA
VS
Elk Grove, CA
🏆 Elk Grove leads 14 of 23 categories
Cedar Rapids
Iowa
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,895
Violent Crime Index
69
Population
136,929
Elk Grove
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,864 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
50 ✓ Safer
Population
176,105 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cedar Rapids, IA
Pros
Homes cost $393k less ($167,900 vs $560,500)
Rent averages $1190/mo less ($886 vs $2,076)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (3.9%)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Elk Grove
Violent crime is well below the national average (261.5 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Median income trails Elk Grove by $48,969/yr
Property crime (2689.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
Households earn $48,969 more per year on average
27% less violent crime than Cedar Rapids
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 28°F
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,500
Higher rents — median is $2,076/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Cedar Rapids
Higher unemployment (6.4% vs 3.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cedar Rapids
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Cedar Rapids
Median Home Value
$393k less
$167,900 vs $560,500
Cedar Rapids
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
3.9% vs 6.4% unemployment
Elk Grove
Median Income
$48,969
$115,864 vs $66,895/yr
Elk Grove
Violent Crime
27% lower
189.9 vs 261.5 per 100k
Elk Grove
Summer Heat
9.8°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 82.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cedar Rapids, IA | Elk Grove, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $167,900 ✓ Lower | $560,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $886 ✓ Lower | $2,076⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,895 | $115,864 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.8 min ✓ Shorter | 33.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 16.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 93 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% | 37.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% ✓ Higher | 90.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cedar Rapids Comm School District | Elk Grove Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.9°F | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" | 18.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,929 | 176,105 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 38.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.6% | 73.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 25.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cedar Rapids's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Elk Grove's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Cedar Rapids is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Elk Grove leads 14 of 23 categories. Cedar Rapids wins 9 and Elk Grove wins 14. 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 Elk Grove or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($167,900 vs $560,500 median home), income ($66,895 vs $115,864), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cedar Rapids, IA and Elk Grove, CA are about 1,579 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.