Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cedar Rapids, IA
VS
Huntington Beach, CA
🏆 Huntington Beach 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
Population
136,929
Huntington Beach
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$114,747 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
55 ✓ Safer
Population
197,481 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cedar Rapids, IA
Pros
Homes cost $809k less ($167,900 vs $976,800)
Rent averages $1432/mo less ($886 vs $2,318)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Huntington Beach
Violent crime is well below the national average (261.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (3.9%)
Cons
Median income trails Huntington Beach by $47,852/yr
Property crime (2689.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Huntington Beach, CA
Pros
Households earn $47,852 more per year on average
21% less violent crime than Cedar Rapids
Violent crime is well below the national average (207.3 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 28°F
More college-educated — 46.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $976,800
Higher rents — median is $2,318/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
Median Home Value
$809k less
$167,900 vs $976,800
Cedar Rapids
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
3.9% vs 5.4% unemployment
Cedar Rapids
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 82.8°F vs 78.9°F
Huntington Beach
Median Income
$47,852
$114,747 vs $66,895/yr
Huntington Beach
Violent Crime
21% lower
207.3 vs 261.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cedar Rapids, IA | Huntington Beach, 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 | $976,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $886 ✓ Lower | $2,318⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,895 | $114,747 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.8 min ✓ Shorter | 29.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 16.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 93 | 71 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 | 55 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 95 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% | 46.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% ✓ Higher | 93.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cedar Rapids Comm School District | Huntington Beach City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.9°F | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F ✓ Warmer | 78.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,929 | 197,481 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 43.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.6% ✓ Higher | 55.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% ✓ More | 17.9% |
| Over 65 | 16.2% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cedar Rapids's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Huntington Beach's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Cedar Rapids is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Huntington Beach leads 12 of 23 categories. Cedar Rapids wins 11 and Huntington Beach 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 Huntington Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($167,900 vs $976,800 median home), income ($66,895 vs $114,747), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cedar Rapids, IA and Huntington Beach, CA are about 1,538 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.