Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cedar Rapids, IA
VS
San Marcos, CA
🏆 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 ✓ Larger
San Marcos
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,413 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
59 ✓ Safer
Population
94,360
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cedar Rapids, IA
Pros
Homes cost $561k less ($167,900 vs $728,800)
Rent averages $1178/mo less ($886 vs $2,064)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than San Marcos
Violent crime is well below the national average (261.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cons
Median income trails San Marcos by $32,518/yr
Property crime (2689.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
San Marcos, CA
Pros
Households earn $32,518 more per year on average
15% less violent crime than Cedar Rapids
Violent crime is well below the national average (222.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 28°F
More college-educated — 41.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $728,800
Higher rents — median is $2,064/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Cedar Rapids
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cedar Rapids
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Cedar Rapids
Median Home Value
$561k less
$167,900 vs $728,800
San Marcos
Median Income
$32,518
$99,413 vs $66,895/yr
San Marcos
Violent Crime
15% lower
222.4 vs 261.5 per 100k
San Marcos
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 87.2°F vs 82.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cedar Rapids, IA | San Marcos, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $167,900 ✓ Lower | $728,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $886 ✓ Lower | $2,064⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,895 | $99,413 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.8 min ✓ Shorter | 26.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 16.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 93 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 31 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% | 41.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% ✓ Higher | 87.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cedar Rapids Comm School District | San Marcos Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.9°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 87.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" | 13.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,929 ✓ Larger | 94,360 |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 35.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.6% ✓ Higher | 61.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cedar Rapids's cost of living index is 90.0 vs San Marcos's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Cedar Rapids is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cedar Rapids leads 12 of 23 categories. Cedar Rapids wins 12 and San Marcos 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 San Marcos or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($167,900 vs $728,800 median home), income ($66,895 vs $99,413), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cedar Rapids, IA and San Marcos, CA are about 1,516 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.