Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cedar Rapids, IA
VS
Norwalk, CT
🏆 Norwalk leads 12 of 23 categories
Cedar Rapids
Iowa
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,895
Violent Crime Index
69
Population
136,929 ✓ Larger
Norwalk
Connecticut
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,879 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
91,050
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cedar Rapids, IA
Pros
Homes cost $324k less ($167,900 vs $491,800)
Rent averages $975/mo less ($886 vs $1,861)
Violent crime is well below the national average (261.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (3.9%)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Norwalk
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Norwalk by $30,984/yr
Property crime (2689.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Norwalk, CT
Pros
67% less violent crime than Cedar Rapids
Households earn $30,984 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (85.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 42.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 28°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $491,800
Higher rents — median is $1,861/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Cedar Rapids
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 3.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cedar Rapids
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Cedar Rapids
Median Home Value
$324k less
$167,900 vs $491,800
Cedar Rapids
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
3.9% vs 5.9% unemployment
Norwalk
Median Income
$30,984
$97,879 vs $66,895/yr
Norwalk
Violent Crime
67% lower
85.0 vs 261.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cedar Rapids, IA | Norwalk, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 106.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $167,900 ✓ Lower | $491,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $886 ✓ Lower | $1,861⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,895 | $97,879 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.8 min ✓ Shorter | 27.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 11.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 93 | 42 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% | 42.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% ✓ Higher | 88.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cedar Rapids Comm School District | Norwalk School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.9°F | 38.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" ✓ Drier | 51.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 34.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,929 ✓ Larger | 91,050 |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 40.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.6% ✓ Higher | 54.8% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% ✓ More | 19.4% |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 15.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cedar Rapids's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Norwalk's 106.5 (US average = 100).
Cedar Rapids is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Norwalk leads 12 of 23 categories. Cedar Rapids wins 11 and Norwalk 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 Norwalk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($167,900 vs $491,800 median home), income ($66,895 vs $97,879), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cedar Rapids, IA and Norwalk, CT are about 945 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.