Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cedar Rapids, IA
VS
Santa Monica, 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 ✓ Larger
Santa Monica
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,797 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
205⚠ High
Population
92,168
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cedar Rapids, IA
Pros
Homes cost $1487k less ($167,900 vs $1,654,800)
Rent averages $1341/mo less ($886 vs $2,227)
66% less violent crime than Santa Monica
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Monica
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (3.9%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (261.5 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Median income trails Santa Monica by $39,902/yr
Property crime (2689.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Santa Monica, CA
Pros
Households earn $39,902 more per year on average
More college-educated — 67.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 28°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 69°F vs 83°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,654,800
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Cedar Rapids
Violent crime (778.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Cedar Rapids
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Cedar Rapids
Violent Crime
66% lower
261.5 vs 778.0 per 100k
Cedar Rapids
Median Home Value
$1487k less
$167,900 vs $1,654,800
Cedar Rapids
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
3.9% vs 6.2% unemployment
Cedar Rapids
Summer Heat
13.4°F warmer
July avg high 82.8°F vs 69.4°F
Santa Monica
Median Income
$39,902
$106,797 vs $66,895/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cedar Rapids, IA | Santa Monica, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $167,900 ✓ Lower | $1,654,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $886 ✓ Lower | $2,227⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,895 | $106,797 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.8 min ✓ Shorter | 25.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 27.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 93 ✓ Safer | 214⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer | 228⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% | 67.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cedar Rapids Comm School District | Santa Monica-Malibu Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.9°F | 62.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F ✓ Warmer | 69.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" | 12.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,929 ✓ Larger | 92,168 |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 42.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.6% ✓ Higher | 28.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% ✓ More | 15.0% |
| Over 65 | 16.2% | 18.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cedar Rapids's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Santa Monica's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Cedar Rapids is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cedar Rapids leads 13 of 23 categories. Cedar Rapids wins 13 and Santa Monica 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 Santa Monica or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($167,900 vs $1,654,800 median home), income ($66,895 vs $106,797), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cedar Rapids, IA and Santa Monica, CA are about 1,553 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.