Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cedar Rapids, IA
VS
Jacksonville, FL
🏆 Cedar Rapids leads 16 of 23 categories
Cedar Rapids
Iowa
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,895 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
69 ✓ Safer
Population
136,929
Jacksonville
Florida
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.2
Median Household Income
$64,138
Violent Crime Index
164⚠ High
Population
950,203 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cedar Rapids, IA
Pros
58% less violent crime than Jacksonville
Homes cost $75k less ($167,900 vs $243,000)
Rent averages $395/mo less ($886 vs $1,281)
Violent crime is well below the national average (261.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (3.9%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Property crime (2689.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Jacksonville, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 28°F
Cons
Violent crime (623.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2494.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.8% vs 3.9%)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Cedar Rapids
Key Differences at a Glance
Cedar Rapids
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 99.2 (100 = US avg)
Cedar Rapids
Median Income
$2,757
$66,895 vs $64,138/yr
Cedar Rapids
Violent Crime
58% lower
261.5 vs 623.8 per 100k
Cedar Rapids
Median Home Value
$75k less
$167,900 vs $243,000
Cedar Rapids
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
3.9% vs 4.8% unemployment
Jacksonville
Summer Heat
9.0°F warmer
July avg high 91.8°F vs 82.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cedar Rapids, IA | Jacksonville, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 99.2 |
| Median Home Value | $167,900 ✓ Lower | $243,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $886 ✓ Lower | $1,281 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,895 ✓ Higher | $64,138 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.8 min ✓ Shorter | 24.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 11.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 93 ✓ Safer | 146⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 164⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% ✓ Higher | 90.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cedar Rapids Comm School District | DUVAL |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.9°F | 65.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" ✓ Drier | 53.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,929 | 950,203 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 36.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.6% ✓ Higher | 57.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 14.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cedar Rapids's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Jacksonville's 99.2 (US average = 100).
Cedar Rapids is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cedar Rapids leads 16 of 23 categories. Cedar Rapids wins 16 and Jacksonville wins 7. 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 Jacksonville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($167,900 vs $243,000 median home), income ($66,895 vs $64,138), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cedar Rapids, IA and Jacksonville, FL are about 977 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.