Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cedar Rapids, IA
VS
Jersey City, NJ
🏆 Cedar Rapids leads 13 of 23 categories
Cedar Rapids
Iowa
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,895
Violent Crime Index
69 ✓ Safer
Population
136,929
Jersey City
New Jersey
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,151 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
148⚠ High
Population
287,899 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cedar Rapids, IA
Pros
Homes cost $332k less ($167,900 vs $500,100)
Rent averages $913/mo less ($886 vs $1,799)
53% less violent crime than Jersey City
Commutes run 19 min shorter each way
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Jersey City
Violent crime is well below the national average (261.5 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Median income trails Jersey City by $24,256/yr
Property crime (2689.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Jersey City, NJ
Pros
Households earn $24,256 more per year on average
More college-educated — 51.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 39°F vs 28°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $500,100
Higher rents — median is $1,799/mo
Violent crime (561.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Cedar Rapids
Key Differences at a Glance
Cedar Rapids
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Cedar Rapids
Violent Crime
53% lower
261.5 vs 561.6 per 100k
Cedar Rapids
Median Home Value
$332k less
$167,900 vs $500,100
Cedar Rapids
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
3.9% vs 5.8% unemployment
Jersey City
Median Income
$24,256
$91,151 vs $66,895/yr
Jersey City
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 86.8°F vs 82.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cedar Rapids, IA | Jersey City, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $167,900 ✓ Lower | $500,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $886 ✓ Lower | $1,799⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,895 | $91,151 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.8 min ✓ Shorter | 37.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 18.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 93 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 148⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% | 51.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% ✓ Higher | 90.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cedar Rapids Comm School District | Jersey City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.9°F | 39.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" ✓ Drier | 50.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 28.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,929 | 287,899 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.6% ✓ Higher | 29.2% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cedar Rapids's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Jersey City's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Cedar Rapids is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cedar Rapids leads 13 of 23 categories. Cedar Rapids wins 13 and Jersey City wins 10. 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 Jersey City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($167,900 vs $500,100 median home), income ($66,895 vs $91,151), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cedar Rapids, IA and Jersey City, NJ are about 916 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.