Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cedar Rapids, IA
VS
McAllen, TX
🏆 McAllen leads 12 of 22 categories
Cedar Rapids
Iowa
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0
Median Household Income
$66,895 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
69
Population
136,929
McAllen
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
142,722 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cedar Rapids, IA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (261.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (3.9%)
Households earn $10,569 more per year on average
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 98°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cons
Property crime (2689.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 4% higher than McAllen
McAllen, TX
Pros
43% less violent crime than Cedar Rapids
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 28°F
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.6)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Cedar Rapids
Cons
Median income trails Cedar Rapids by $10,569/yr
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 3.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cedar Rapids
Median Income
$10,569
$66,895 vs $56,326/yr
Cedar Rapids
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
3.9% vs 5.4% unemployment
McAllen
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 90.0 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Violent Crime
43% lower
150.0 vs 261.5 per 100k
McAllen
Summer Heat
14.7°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 82.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cedar Rapids, IA | McAllen, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $167,900 | $158,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $886 ✓ Lower | $955 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,895 ✓ Higher | $56,326 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.8 min ✓ Shorter | 21.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 9.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 93 | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% ✓ Higher | 31.8% |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% ✓ Higher | 78.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cedar Rapids Comm School District | MCALLEN ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.9°F | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" | 27.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,929 | 142,722 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.6% ✓ Higher | 59.4% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 13.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cedar Rapids's cost of living index is 90.0 vs McAllen's 85.6 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, McAllen leads 12 of 22 categories. Cedar Rapids wins 10 and McAllen 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 McAllen or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($167,900 vs $158,700 median home), income ($66,895 vs $56,326), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cedar Rapids, IA and McAllen, TX are about 1,150 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.