Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cedar Rapids, IA
VS
Germantown, MD
🏆 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 ✓ Larger
Germantown
Maryland
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,268 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
90,210
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cedar Rapids, IA
Pros
Homes cost $226k less ($167,900 vs $393,700)
Rent averages $1022/mo less ($886 vs $1,908)
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Germantown
Violent crime is well below the national average (261.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (3.9%)
Cons
Median income trails Germantown by $42,373/yr
Property crime (2689.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Germantown, MD
Pros
Households earn $42,373 more per year on average
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 39°F vs 28°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $393,700
Higher rents — median is $1,908/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Cedar Rapids
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 3.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cedar Rapids
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Cedar Rapids
Median Home Value
$226k less
$167,900 vs $393,700
Cedar Rapids
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
3.9% vs 5.2% unemployment
Germantown
Median Income
$42,373
$109,268 vs $66,895/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cedar Rapids, IA | Germantown, MD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 108.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $167,900 ✓ Lower | $393,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $886 ✓ Lower | $1,908⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,895 | $109,268 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.8 min ✓ Shorter | 33.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 16.7% ✓ 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) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% ✓ Higher | 89.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cedar Rapids Comm School District | Montgomery County Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.9°F | 39.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 84.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" ✓ Drier | 46.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 32.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,929 ✓ Larger | 90,210 |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.6% ✓ Higher | 65.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 24.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cedar Rapids's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Germantown's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Cedar Rapids is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Cedar Rapids leads 11 of 20 categories. Cedar Rapids wins 11 and Germantown 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 Germantown or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($167,900 vs $393,700 median home), income ($66,895 vs $109,268), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cedar Rapids, IA and Germantown, MD are about 780 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.