Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cedar Rapids, IA
VS
Glendale, CA
🏆 Glendale leads 12 of 23 categories
Cedar Rapids
Iowa
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,895
Violent Crime Index
69 ✓ Safer
Population
136,929
Glendale
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,219 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
76
Population
194,512 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cedar Rapids, IA
Pros
Homes cost $824k less ($167,900 vs $992,000)
Rent averages $1116/mo less ($886 vs $2,002)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.2 pts lower (3.9%)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Glendale
9% less violent crime than Glendale
Violent crime is well below the national average (261.5 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Median income trails Glendale by $14,324/yr
Property crime (2689.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Glendale, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 28°F
Households earn $14,324 more per year on average
More college-educated — 43.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $992,000
Higher rents — median is $2,002/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Cedar Rapids
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cedar Rapids
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Cedar Rapids
Violent Crime
9% lower
261.5 vs 287.2 per 100k
Cedar Rapids
Median Home Value
$824k less
$167,900 vs $992,000
Cedar Rapids
Unemployment
4.2 pp lower
3.9% vs 8.1% unemployment
Glendale
Median Income
$14,324
$81,219 vs $66,895/yr
Glendale
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 85.8°F vs 82.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cedar Rapids, IA | Glendale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $167,900 ✓ Lower | $992,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $886 ✓ Lower | $2,002⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,895 | $81,219 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.8 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 16.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 93 | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 76 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% | 43.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% ✓ Higher | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cedar Rapids Comm School District | Glendale Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.9°F | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 85.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,929 | 194,512 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 41.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.6% ✓ Higher | 34.2% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 16.2% | 18.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cedar Rapids's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Glendale's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Cedar Rapids is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Glendale leads 12 of 23 categories. Cedar Rapids wins 11 and Glendale wins 12. 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 $992,000 median home), income ($66,895 vs $81,219), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cedar Rapids, IA and Glendale, CA are about 1,534 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.