Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cedar Rapids, IA
VS
Santa Rosa, 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
Santa Rosa
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
110.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,604 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
90
Population
178,221 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cedar Rapids, IA
Pros
Homes cost $494k less ($167,900 vs $661,700)
Rent averages $1138/mo less ($886 vs $2,024)
24% less violent crime than Santa Rosa
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Rosa
Violent crime is well below the national average (261.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (3.9%)
Cons
Median income trails Santa Rosa by $25,709/yr
Property crime (2689.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Santa Rosa, CA
Pros
Households earn $25,709 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 28°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $661,700
Higher rents — median is $2,024/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Cedar Rapids
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 110.1)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cedar Rapids
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 110.1 (100 = US avg)
Cedar Rapids
Violent Crime
24% lower
261.5 vs 342.6 per 100k
Cedar Rapids
Median Home Value
$494k less
$167,900 vs $661,700
Cedar Rapids
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.9% vs 5.6% unemployment
Santa Rosa
Median Income
$25,709
$92,604 vs $66,895/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cedar Rapids, IA | Santa Rosa, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 110.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $167,900 ✓ Lower | $661,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $886 ✓ Lower | $2,024⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,895 | $92,604 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.8 min ✓ Shorter | 22.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 93 | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 90 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B- (90) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% | 34.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cedar Rapids Comm School District | Rincon Valley Union Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.9°F | 59.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" | 31.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,929 | 178,221 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.6% ✓ Higher | 55.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 16.2% | 18.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cedar Rapids's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Santa Rosa's 110.1 (US average = 100).
Cedar Rapids is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cedar Rapids leads 13 of 23 categories. Cedar Rapids wins 13 and Santa Rosa 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 Rosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($167,900 vs $661,700 median home), income ($66,895 vs $92,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cedar Rapids, IA and Santa Rosa, CA are about 1,646 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.