Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cedar Rapids, IA
VS
Miami Gardens, 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 ✓ Larger
Miami Gardens
Florida
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$56,071
Violent Crime Index
109⚠ High
Population
111,618
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cedar Rapids, IA
Pros
Rent averages $697/mo less ($886 vs $1,583)
Homes cost $132k less ($167,900 vs $299,700)
37% less violent crime than Miami Gardens
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.0 pts lower (3.9%)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Miami Gardens
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Cons
Property crime (2689.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Miami Gardens, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 28°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,583/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Cedar Rapids
Median income trails Cedar Rapids by $10,824/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cedar Rapids
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Cedar Rapids
Median Income
$10,824
$66,895 vs $56,071/yr
Cedar Rapids
Violent Crime
37% lower
261.5 vs 414.6 per 100k
Cedar Rapids
Median Home Value
$132k less
$167,900 vs $299,700
Cedar Rapids
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
3.9% vs 7.9% unemployment
Miami Gardens
Summer Heat
6.8°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 82.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cedar Rapids, IA | Miami Gardens, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $167,900 ✓ Lower | $299,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $886 ✓ Lower | $1,583⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,895 ✓ Higher | $56,071 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.8 min ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 93 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% ✓ Higher | 17.7% |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% ✓ Higher | 82.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cedar Rapids Comm School District | MIAMI-DADE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.9°F | 75.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" ✓ Drier | 68.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,929 ✓ Larger | 111,618 |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 38.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.6% ✓ Higher | 64.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% | 16.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cedar Rapids's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Miami Gardens's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Cedar Rapids is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cedar Rapids leads 16 of 23 categories. Cedar Rapids wins 16 and Miami Gardens 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 Miami Gardens or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($167,900 vs $299,700 median home), income ($66,895 vs $56,071), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cedar Rapids, IA and Miami Gardens, FL are about 1,283 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.