Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cedar Rapids, IA
VS
Rialto, CA
🏆 Cedar Rapids leads 16 of 23 categories
Cedar Rapids
Iowa
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,895
Violent Crime Index
69 ✓ Safer
Population
136,929 ✓ Larger
Rialto
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,750 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
169⚠ High
Population
103,873
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cedar Rapids, IA
Pros
Homes cost $250k less ($167,900 vs $418,300)
Rent averages $667/mo less ($886 vs $1,553)
59% less violent crime than Rialto
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.4 pts lower (3.9%)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (261.5 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Median income trails Rialto by $13,855/yr
Property crime (2689.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Rialto, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 28°F
Households earn $13,855 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $418,300
Higher rents — median is $1,553/mo
Violent crime (641.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Cedar Rapids
Key Differences at a Glance
Cedar Rapids
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Cedar Rapids
Violent Crime
59% lower
261.5 vs 641.7 per 100k
Cedar Rapids
Median Home Value
$250k less
$167,900 vs $418,300
Cedar Rapids
Unemployment
5.4 pp lower
3.9% vs 9.3% unemployment
Rialto
Median Income
$13,855
$80,750 vs $66,895/yr
Rialto
Summer Heat
11.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 82.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cedar Rapids, IA | Rialto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $167,900 ✓ Lower | $418,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $886 ✓ Lower | $1,553⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,895 | $80,750 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.8 min ✓ Shorter | 33.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 6.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 93 ✓ Safer | 147⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% ✓ Higher | 12.3% |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% ✓ Higher | 74.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cedar Rapids Comm School District | Rialto Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.9°F | 69.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,929 ✓ Larger | 103,873 |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 31.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.6% ✓ Higher | 62.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 27.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cedar Rapids's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Rialto's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Cedar Rapids is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cedar Rapids leads 16 of 23 categories. Cedar Rapids wins 16 and Rialto 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 Rialto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($167,900 vs $418,300 median home), income ($66,895 vs $80,750), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cedar Rapids, IA and Rialto, CA are about 1,493 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.