Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cedar Rapids, IA
VS
Springfield, MO
🏆 Cedar Rapids leads 14 of 23 categories
Cedar Rapids
Iowa
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0
Median Household Income
$66,895 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
69 ✓ Safer
Population
136,929
Springfield
Missouri
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,450
Violent Crime Index
310⚠ High
Population
168,873 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cedar Rapids, IA
Pros
78% less violent crime than Springfield
Households earn $23,445 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (261.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (3.9%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 88°F
Cons
Property crime (2689.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Springfield, MO
Pros
Homes cost $22k less ($146,400 vs $167,900)
Milder winters — January highs near 43°F vs 28°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Cons
Median income trails Cedar Rapids by $23,445/yr
Violent crime (1178.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4184.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.8% vs 3.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cedar Rapids
Median Income
$23,445
$66,895 vs $43,450/yr
Cedar Rapids
Violent Crime
78% lower
261.5 vs 1178.1 per 100k
Cedar Rapids
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
3.9% vs 4.8% unemployment
Springfield
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 90.0 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$22k less
$146,400 vs $167,900
Springfield
Summer Heat
5.4°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 82.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cedar Rapids, IA | Springfield, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $167,900 | $146,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $886 | $878 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,895 ✓ Higher | $43,450 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.8 min ✓ Shorter | 18.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 93 ✓ Safer | 266⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 310⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% ✓ Higher | 91.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cedar Rapids Comm School District | SPRINGFIELD R-XII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.9°F | 43.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 13.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,929 | 168,873 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 33.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.6% ✓ Higher | 42.3% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% ✓ More | 17.4% |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 15.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cedar Rapids's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Springfield's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cedar Rapids leads 14 of 23 categories. Cedar Rapids wins 14 and Springfield wins 9. 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($167,900 vs $146,400 median home), income ($66,895 vs $43,450), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cedar Rapids, IA and Springfield, MO are about 341 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.