Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cedar Rapids, IA
VS
Fremont, CA
🏆 Fremont leads 13 of 23 categories
Cedar Rapids
Iowa
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,895
Violent Crime Index
69
Population
136,929
Fremont
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$169,023 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
228,795 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cedar Rapids, IA
Pros
Homes cost $1064k less ($167,900 vs $1,231,500)
Rent averages $1938/mo less ($886 vs $2,824)
28% cheaper overall cost of living than Fremont
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (261.5 vs 380/100k)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cons
Median income trails Fremont by $102,128/yr
Property crime (2689.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Fremont, CA
Pros
Households earn $102,128 more per year on average
25% less violent crime than Cedar Rapids
More college-educated — 61.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (195.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 28°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 83°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,231,500
Higher rents — median is $2,824/mo
Cost of living runs 28% higher than Cedar Rapids
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cedar Rapids
Cost of Living
28% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Cedar Rapids
Median Home Value
$1064k less
$167,900 vs $1,231,500
Cedar Rapids
Summer Heat
5.8°F warmer
July avg high 82.8°F vs 77.0°F
Fremont
Median Income
$102,128
$169,023 vs $66,895/yr
Fremont
Violent Crime
25% lower
195.7 vs 261.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cedar Rapids, IA | Fremont, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $167,900 ✓ Lower | $1,231,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $886 ✓ Lower | $2,824⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,895 | $169,023 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.8 min ✓ Shorter | 33.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 28.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 93 | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% | 61.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% ✓ Higher | 93.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cedar Rapids Comm School District | Fremont Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.9°F | 58.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F ✓ Warmer | 77.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" | 14.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,929 | 228,795 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 38.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.6% ✓ Higher | 60.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cedar Rapids's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Fremont's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Cedar Rapids is 28% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fremont leads 13 of 23 categories. Cedar Rapids wins 10 and Fremont wins 13. 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 Fremont or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($167,900 vs $1,231,500 median home), income ($66,895 vs $169,023), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cedar Rapids, IA and Fremont, CA are about 1,629 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.