Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cedar Rapids, IA
VS
Hemet, CA
🏆 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 ✓ Larger
Hemet
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$49,901
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
89,651
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cedar Rapids, IA
Pros
Homes cost $109k less ($167,900 vs $277,200)
Rent averages $471/mo less ($886 vs $1,357)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.6 pts lower (3.9%)
38% less violent crime than Hemet
Households earn $16,994 more per year on average
Commutes run 19 min shorter each way
Cons
Property crime (2689.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Hemet, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 28°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,357/mo
Median income trails Cedar Rapids by $16,994/yr
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Cedar Rapids
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 3.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cedar Rapids
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Cedar Rapids
Median Income
$16,994
$66,895 vs $49,901/yr
Cedar Rapids
Violent Crime
38% lower
261.5 vs 424.8 per 100k
Cedar Rapids
Median Home Value
$109k less
$167,900 vs $277,200
Cedar Rapids
Unemployment
5.6 pp lower
3.9% vs 9.5% unemployment
Hemet
Summer Heat
12.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.1°F vs 82.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cedar Rapids, IA | Hemet, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $167,900 ✓ Lower | $277,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $886 ✓ Lower | $1,357⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,895 ✓ Higher | $49,901 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.8 min ✓ Shorter | 36.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 7.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 93 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C (78) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% ✓ Higher | 13.9% |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% ✓ Higher | 79.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cedar Rapids Comm School District | Hemet Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.9°F | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 95.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" | 12.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,929 ✓ Larger | 89,651 |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 39.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.6% ✓ Higher | 61.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% | 22.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cedar Rapids's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Hemet's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Cedar Rapids is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cedar Rapids leads 15 of 23 categories. Cedar Rapids wins 15 and Hemet 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 Hemet or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($167,900 vs $277,200 median home), income ($66,895 vs $49,901), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cedar Rapids, IA and Hemet, CA are about 1,487 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.