Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cedar Rapids, IA
VS
Little Rock, AR
🏆 Cedar Rapids leads 15 of 22 categories
Cedar Rapids
Iowa
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0
Median Household Income
$66,895 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
69 ✓ Safer
Population
136,929
Little Rock
Arkansas
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,697
Violent Crime Index
440⚠ High
Population
202,218 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cedar Rapids, IA
Pros
84% less violent crime than Little Rock
Homes cost $38k less ($167,900 vs $205,800)
Violent crime is well below the national average (261.5 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $8,198 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (3.9%)
Rent averages $120/mo less ($886 vs $1,006)
Cons
Property crime (2689.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Little Rock, AR
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 28°F
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.1)
Cons
Violent crime (1672.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Cedar Rapids by $8,198/yr
Property crime (5214.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Cedar Rapids
Median Income
$8,198
$66,895 vs $58,697/yr
Cedar Rapids
Violent Crime
84% lower
261.5 vs 1672.0 per 100k
Cedar Rapids
Median Home Value
$38k less
$167,900 vs $205,800
Cedar Rapids
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
3.9% vs 4.4% unemployment
Little Rock
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 89.1 vs 90.0 (100 = US avg)
Little Rock
Summer Heat
8.9°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 82.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cedar Rapids, IA | Little Rock, AR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 | 89.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $167,900 ✓ Lower | $205,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $886 ✓ Lower | $1,006 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,895 ✓ Higher | $58,697 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.8 min ✓ Shorter | 18.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 8.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 93 ✓ Safer | 363⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 440⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% | 44.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% ✓ Higher | 92.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cedar Rapids Comm School District | LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.9°F | 50.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" ✓ Drier | 52.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 3.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,929 | 202,218 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 36.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.6% ✓ Higher | 54.4% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 15.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cedar Rapids's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Little Rock's 89.1 (US average = 100).
Little Rock is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Cedar Rapids leads 15 of 22 categories. Cedar Rapids wins 15 and Little Rock 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 Little Rock or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($167,900 vs $205,800 median home), income ($66,895 vs $58,697), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cedar Rapids, IA and Little Rock, AR are about 502 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.