Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cedar Rapids, IA
VS
St. George, UT
🏆 St. George leads 15 of 23 categories
Cedar Rapids
Iowa
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,895
Violent Crime Index
69
Population
136,929 ✓ Larger
St. George
Utah
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1
Median Household Income
$69,333 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
55 ✓ Safer
Population
96,174
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cedar Rapids, IA
Pros
Homes cost $247k less ($167,900 vs $415,200)
Rent averages $449/mo less ($886 vs $1,335)
Violent crime is well below the national average (261.5 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 102°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than St. George
Cons
Property crime (2689.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
St. George, UT
Pros
20% less violent crime than Cedar Rapids
Violent crime is well below the national average (210.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 28°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (3.3%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $415,200
Higher rents — median is $1,335/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 102°F
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Cedar Rapids
Key Differences at a Glance
Cedar Rapids
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 96.1 (100 = US avg)
Cedar Rapids
Median Home Value
$247k less
$167,900 vs $415,200
St. George
Median Income
$2,438
$69,333 vs $66,895/yr
St. George
Violent Crime
20% lower
210.0 vs 261.5 per 100k
St. George
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
3.3% vs 3.9% unemployment
St. George
Summer Heat
19.1°F warmer
July avg high 101.9°F vs 82.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cedar Rapids, IA | St. George, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 96.1 |
| Median Home Value | $167,900 ✓ Lower | $415,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $886 ✓ Lower | $1,335⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,895 | $69,333 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.8 min | 16.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 93 | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 | 55 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% ✓ Higher | 32.6% |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cedar Rapids Comm School District | Washington District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.9°F | 54.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 101.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" | 9.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 1.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,929 ✓ Larger | 96,174 |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.6% ✓ Higher | 67.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cedar Rapids's cost of living index is 90.0 vs St. George's 96.1 (US average = 100).
Cedar Rapids is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. George leads 15 of 23 categories. Cedar Rapids wins 8 and St. George wins 15. 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 St. George or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($167,900 vs $415,200 median home), income ($66,895 vs $69,333), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cedar Rapids, IA and St. George, UT are about 1,211 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.