Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cedar Rapids, IA
VS
Spokane Valley, WA
🏆 Cedar Rapids leads 15 of 23 categories
Cedar Rapids
Iowa
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,895 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
69
Population
136,929 ✓ Larger
Spokane Valley
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,483
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
103,761
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cedar Rapids, IA
Pros
Homes cost $140k less ($167,900 vs $307,700)
Rent averages $289/mo less ($886 vs $1,175)
Violent crime is well below the national average (261.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (3.9%)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Spokane Valley
More college-educated — 32.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Property crime (2689.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Spokane Valley, WA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (242.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 28°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $307,700
Property crime (3515.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Cedar Rapids
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 3.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cedar Rapids
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 101.0 (100 = US avg)
Cedar Rapids
Median Home Value
$140k less
$167,900 vs $307,700
Cedar Rapids
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
3.9% vs 5.8% unemployment
Spokane Valley
Violent Crime
7% lower
242.1 vs 261.5 per 100k
Spokane Valley
Summer Heat
4.3°F warmer
July avg high 87.1°F vs 82.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cedar Rapids, IA | Spokane Valley, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 101.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $167,900 ✓ Lower | $307,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $886 ✓ Lower | $1,175 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,895 ✓ Higher | $66,483 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.8 min ✓ Shorter | 20.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 93 ✓ Safer | 105⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% ✓ Higher | 25.3% |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cedar Rapids Comm School District | East Valley School District (Spokane) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.9°F | 37.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 87.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,929 ✓ Larger | 103,761 |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.6% ✓ Higher | 57.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 21.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cedar Rapids's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Spokane Valley's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Cedar Rapids is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cedar Rapids leads 15 of 23 categories. Cedar Rapids wins 15 and Spokane Valley wins 8. 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 Spokane Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($167,900 vs $307,700 median home), income ($66,895 vs $66,483), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cedar Rapids, IA and Spokane Valley, WA are about 1,306 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.