Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cedar Rapids, IA
VS
Port St. Lucie, FL
🏆 Cedar Rapids leads 12 of 23 categories
Cedar Rapids
Iowa
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,895
Violent Crime Index
69
Population
136,929
Port St. Lucie
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$75,040 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
31 ✓ Safer
Population
210,520 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cedar Rapids, IA
Pros
Rent averages $798/mo less ($886 vs $1,684)
Homes cost $125k less ($167,900 vs $292,900)
Violent crime is well below the national average (261.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (3.9%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Port St. Lucie
Cons
Property crime (2689.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Port St. Lucie by $8,145/yr
Port St. Lucie, FL
Pros
55% less violent crime than Cedar Rapids
Milder winters — January highs near 73°F vs 28°F
Violent crime is well below the national average (116.7 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $8,145 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,684/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Cedar Rapids
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 3.9%)
Longer commutes — 29.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Cedar Rapids
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 101.7 (100 = US avg)
Cedar Rapids
Median Home Value
$125k less
$167,900 vs $292,900
Cedar Rapids
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
3.9% vs 5.7% unemployment
Port St. Lucie
Median Income
$8,145
$75,040 vs $66,895/yr
Port St. Lucie
Violent Crime
55% lower
116.7 vs 261.5 per 100k
Port St. Lucie
Summer Heat
5.8°F warmer
July avg high 88.6°F vs 82.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cedar Rapids, IA | Port St. Lucie, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 101.7⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $167,900 ✓ Lower | $292,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $886 ✓ Lower | $1,684⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,895 | $75,040 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.8 min ✓ Shorter | 29.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 9.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 93 | 33 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 | 31 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 36 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% ✓ Higher | 26.2% |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% ✓ Higher | 90.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cedar Rapids Comm School District | ST. LUCIE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.9°F | 73.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 88.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,929 | 210,520 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 43.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.6% | 82.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.5% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 16.2% | 21.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cedar Rapids's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Port St. Lucie's 101.7 (US average = 100).
Cedar Rapids is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cedar Rapids leads 12 of 23 categories. Cedar Rapids wins 12 and Port St. Lucie wins 11. 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 Port St. Lucie or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($167,900 vs $292,900 median home), income ($66,895 vs $75,040), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cedar Rapids, IA and Port St. Lucie, FL are about 1,198 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.