Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cedar Rapids, IA
VS
San Francisco, CA
🏆 Cedar Rapids leads 13 of 23 categories
Cedar Rapids
Iowa
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,895
Violent Crime Index
69 ✓ Safer
Population
136,929
San Francisco
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
117.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,689 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
851,036 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cedar Rapids, IA
Pros
Homes cost $1181k less ($167,900 vs $1,348,700)
Rent averages $1430/mo less ($886 vs $2,316)
56% less violent crime than San Francisco
27% cheaper overall cost of living than San Francisco
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (261.5 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Median income trails San Francisco by $69,794/yr
Property crime (2689.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
San Francisco, CA
Pros
Households earn $69,794 more per year on average
More college-educated — 59.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 28°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 83°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,348,700
Higher rents — median is $2,316/mo
Cost of living runs 27% higher than Cedar Rapids
Violent crime (596.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Cedar Rapids
Cost of Living
27% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 117.1 (100 = US avg)
Cedar Rapids
Violent Crime
56% lower
261.5 vs 596.5 per 100k
Cedar Rapids
Median Home Value
$1181k less
$167,900 vs $1,348,700
Cedar Rapids
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
3.9% vs 5.4% unemployment
Cedar Rapids
Summer Heat
21.0°F warmer
July avg high 82.8°F vs 61.8°F
San Francisco
Median Income
$69,794
$136,689 vs $66,895/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cedar Rapids, IA | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 117.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $167,900 ✓ Lower | $1,348,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $886 ✓ Lower | $2,316⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,895 | $136,689 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.8 min ✓ Shorter | 31.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 23.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 93 ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer | 187⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% | 59.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% ✓ Higher | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cedar Rapids Comm School District | San Francisco Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.9°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F ✓ Warmer | 61.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" | 30.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,929 | 851,036 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 39.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.6% ✓ Higher | 38.6% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% ✓ More | 13.6% |
| Over 65 | 16.2% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cedar Rapids's cost of living index is 90.0 vs San Francisco's 117.1 (US average = 100).
Cedar Rapids is 27% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cedar Rapids leads 13 of 23 categories. Cedar Rapids wins 13 and San Francisco wins 10. 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 San Francisco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($167,900 vs $1,348,700 median home), income ($66,895 vs $136,689), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cedar Rapids, IA and San Francisco, CA are about 1,679 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.