Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cedar Rapids, IA
VS
Kansas City, KS
🏆 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 ✓ Safer
Population
136,929
Kansas City
Kansas
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$56,120
Violent Crime Index
276⚠ High
Population
155,438 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cedar Rapids, IA
Pros
75% less violent crime than Kansas City
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (3.9%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (261.5 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $10,775 more per year on average
Rent averages $158/mo less ($886 vs $1,044)
More college-educated — 32.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Property crime (2689.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Kansas City, KS
Pros
Homes cost $34k less ($133,800 vs $167,900)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Milder winters — January highs near 40°F vs 28°F
Cons
Violent crime (1047.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Cedar Rapids by $10,775/yr
Property crime (3606.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.0% vs 3.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cedar Rapids
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
Cedar Rapids
Median Income
$10,775
$66,895 vs $56,120/yr
Cedar Rapids
Violent Crime
75% lower
261.5 vs 1047.2 per 100k
Cedar Rapids
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.9% vs 6.0% unemployment
Kansas City
Median Home Value
$34k less
$133,800 vs $167,900
Kansas City
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 90.2°F vs 82.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cedar Rapids, IA | Kansas City, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 93.3 |
| Median Home Value | $167,900 | $133,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $886 ✓ Lower | $1,044 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,895 ✓ Higher | $56,120 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.8 min ✓ Shorter | 21.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 93 ✓ Safer | 234⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 276⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer | 172⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% ✓ Higher | 80.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cedar Rapids Comm School District | Kansas City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.9°F | 39.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" ✓ Drier | 38.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 11.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,929 | 155,438 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.6% ✓ Higher | 59.5% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cedar Rapids's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Kansas City's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Cedar Rapids is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cedar Rapids leads 17 of 23 categories. Cedar Rapids wins 17 and Kansas City 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 Kansas City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($167,900 vs $133,800 median home), income ($66,895 vs $56,120), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cedar Rapids, IA and Kansas City, KS are about 254 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.