Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cedar Rapids, IA
VS
Fort Lauderdale, FL
🏆 Cedar Rapids leads 11 of 20 categories
Cedar Rapids
Iowa
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,895
Violent Crime Index
69
Population
136,929
Fort Lauderdale
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$75,376 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
182,673 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cedar Rapids, IA
Pros
Homes cost $250k less ($167,900 vs $417,600)
Rent averages $741/mo less ($886 vs $1,627)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Lauderdale
Violent crime is well below the national average (261.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (3.9%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cons
Property crime (2689.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Fort Lauderdale by $8,481/yr
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 28°F
Households earn $8,481 more per year on average
More college-educated — 40.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $417,600
Higher rents — median is $1,627/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Cedar Rapids
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cedar Rapids
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Cedar Rapids
Median Home Value
$250k less
$167,900 vs $417,600
Cedar Rapids
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
3.9% vs 5.4% unemployment
Fort Lauderdale
Median Income
$8,481
$75,376 vs $66,895/yr
Fort Lauderdale
Summer Heat
7.7°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 82.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cedar Rapids, IA | Fort Lauderdale, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $167,900 ✓ Lower | $417,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $886 ✓ Lower | $1,627⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,895 | $75,376 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.8 min ✓ Shorter | 26.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 14.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 93 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 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 | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% | 40.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% ✓ Higher | 89.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cedar Rapids Comm School District | BROWARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.9°F | 76.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" ✓ Drier | 63.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,929 | 182,673 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 43.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.6% ✓ Higher | 54.2% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% ✓ More | 16.9% |
| Over 65 | 16.2% | 19.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cedar Rapids's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Fort Lauderdale's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Cedar Rapids is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Cedar Rapids leads 11 of 20 categories. Cedar Rapids wins 11 and Fort Lauderdale 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 Fort Lauderdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($167,900 vs $417,600 median home), income ($66,895 vs $75,376), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cedar Rapids, IA and Fort Lauderdale, FL are about 1,274 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.