Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cedar Rapids, IA
VS
Glendale, AZ
🏆 Cedar Rapids leads 15 of 23 categories
Cedar Rapids
Iowa
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,895 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
69 ✓ Safer
Population
136,929
Glendale
Arizona
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$66,375
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
248,083 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cedar Rapids, IA
Pros
Homes cost $142k less ($167,900 vs $310,000)
46% less violent crime than Glendale
Rent averages $382/mo less ($886 vs $1,268)
Violent crime is well below the national average (261.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (3.9%)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Cons
Property crime (2689.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Glendale, AZ
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 28°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $310,000
Violent crime (488.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2670.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 3.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cedar Rapids
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
Cedar Rapids
Median Income
$520
$66,895 vs $66,375/yr
Cedar Rapids
Violent Crime
46% lower
261.5 vs 488.4 per 100k
Cedar Rapids
Median Home Value
$142k less
$167,900 vs $310,000
Cedar Rapids
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
3.9% vs 5.7% unemployment
Glendale
Summer Heat
22.1°F warmer
July avg high 104.9°F vs 82.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cedar Rapids, IA | Glendale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 97.6 |
| Median Home Value | $167,900 ✓ Lower | $310,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $886 ✓ Lower | $1,268 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,895 ✓ Higher | $66,375 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.8 min ✓ Shorter | 28.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 93 ✓ Safer | 128⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ 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- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% ✓ Higher | 22.6% |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% ✓ Higher | 84.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cedar Rapids Comm School District | Peoria Unified School District (4237) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.9°F | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 104.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" | 8.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,929 | 248,083 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.6% ✓ Higher | 57.2% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 25.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cedar Rapids's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Glendale's 97.6 (US average = 100).
Cedar Rapids is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cedar Rapids leads 15 of 23 categories. Cedar Rapids wins 15 and Glendale wins 8. 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 Glendale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($167,900 vs $310,000 median home), income ($66,895 vs $66,375), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cedar Rapids, IA and Glendale, AZ are about 1,258 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.