Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cedar Rapids, IA
VS
Mission Viejo, CA
🏆 Mission Viejo leads 14 of 23 categories
Cedar Rapids
Iowa
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,895
Violent Crime Index
69
Population
136,929 ✓ Larger
Mission Viejo
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
26 ✓ Safer
Population
93,233
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cedar Rapids, IA
Pros
Homes cost $716k less ($167,900 vs $883,600)
Rent averages $1736/mo less ($886 vs $2,622)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Mission Viejo
Violent crime is well below the national average (261.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (3.9%)
Cons
Median income trails Mission Viejo by $69,675/yr
Property crime (2689.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Mission Viejo, CA
Pros
Households earn $69,675 more per year on average
62% less violent crime than Cedar Rapids
Violent crime is well below the national average (99.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 28°F
More college-educated — 51.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,600
Higher rents — median is $2,622/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Cedar Rapids
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cedar Rapids
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Cedar Rapids
Median Home Value
$716k less
$167,900 vs $883,600
Cedar Rapids
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
3.9% vs 4.4% unemployment
Cedar Rapids
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 82.8°F vs 79.5°F
Mission Viejo
Median Income
$69,675
$136,570 vs $66,895/yr
Mission Viejo
Violent Crime
62% lower
99.2 vs 261.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cedar Rapids, IA | Mission Viejo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $167,900 ✓ Lower | $883,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $886 ✓ Lower | $2,622⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,895 | $136,570 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.8 min ✓ Shorter | 27.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 18.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 93 | 38 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 | 26 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% | 51.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cedar Rapids Comm School District | Saddleback Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.9°F | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F ✓ Warmer | 79.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" | 15.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,929 ✓ Larger | 93,233 |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 46.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.6% | 77.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.5% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 16.2% | 22.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cedar Rapids's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Mission Viejo's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Cedar Rapids is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mission Viejo leads 14 of 23 categories. Cedar Rapids wins 9 and Mission Viejo wins 14. 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 Mission Viejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($167,900 vs $883,600 median home), income ($66,895 vs $136,570), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cedar Rapids, IA and Mission Viejo, CA are about 1,524 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.