Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cedar Rapids, IA
VS
Hampton, VA
🏆 Cedar Rapids leads 17 of 23 categories
Cedar Rapids
Iowa
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,895 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
69
Population
136,929
Hampton
Virginia
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$64,430
Violent Crime Index
65 ✓ Safer
Population
137,217 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cedar Rapids, IA
Pros
Rent averages $369/mo less ($886 vs $1,255)
Homes cost $52k less ($167,900 vs $219,800)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (3.9%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (261.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cons
Property crime (2689.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Hampton, VA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (247.6 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 28°F
Cons
Property crime (2882.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 3.9%)
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Cedar Rapids
Key Differences at a Glance
Cedar Rapids
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Cedar Rapids
Median Income
$2,465
$66,895 vs $64,430/yr
Cedar Rapids
Median Home Value
$52k less
$167,900 vs $219,800
Cedar Rapids
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
3.9% vs 6.5% unemployment
Hampton
Violent Crime
5% lower
247.6 vs 261.5 per 100k
Hampton
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 82.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cedar Rapids, IA | Hampton, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $167,900 ✓ Lower | $219,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $886 ✓ Lower | $1,255 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,895 ✓ Higher | $64,430 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.8 min ✓ Shorter | 22.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 7.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 93 ✓ Safer | 94 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 | 65 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer | 137⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% ✓ Higher | 27.7% |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% ✓ Higher | 92.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cedar Rapids Comm School District | Hampton City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.9°F | 49.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" ✓ Drier | 47.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,929 | 137,217 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 36.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.6% ✓ Higher | 55.6% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% ✓ More | 21.3% |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 15.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cedar Rapids's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Hampton's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Cedar Rapids is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cedar Rapids leads 17 of 23 categories. Cedar Rapids wins 17 and Hampton wins 6. 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 Hampton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($167,900 vs $219,800 median home), income ($66,895 vs $64,430), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cedar Rapids, IA and Hampton, VA are about 886 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.