Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cedar Rapids, IA
VS
Trenton, NJ
🏆 Cedar Rapids leads 17 of 23 categories
Cedar Rapids
Iowa
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,895 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
69 ✓ Safer
Population
136,929 ✓ Larger
Trenton
New Jersey
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$44,444
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High
Population
90,055
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cedar Rapids, IA
Pros
75% less violent crime than Trenton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.3 pts lower (3.9%)
Households earn $22,451 more per year on average
Rent averages $291/mo less ($886 vs $1,177)
Violent crime is well below the national average (261.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Property crime (2689.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Trenton, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $57k less ($111,200 vs $167,900)
Milder winters — January highs near 40°F vs 28°F
Cons
Median income trails Cedar Rapids by $22,451/yr
Violent crime (1025.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Cedar Rapids
Higher unemployment (10.2% vs 3.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cedar Rapids
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 102.1 (100 = US avg)
Cedar Rapids
Median Income
$22,451
$66,895 vs $44,444/yr
Cedar Rapids
Violent Crime
75% lower
261.5 vs 1025.9 per 100k
Cedar Rapids
Unemployment
6.3 pp lower
3.9% vs 10.2% unemployment
Trenton
Median Home Value
$57k less
$111,200 vs $167,900
Trenton
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 86.5°F vs 82.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cedar Rapids, IA | Trenton, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 102.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $167,900 | $111,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $886 ✓ Lower | $1,177 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,895 ✓ Higher | $44,444 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.8 min ✓ Shorter | 26.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 5.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 93 ✓ Safer | 206⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 270⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C (75) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% ✓ Higher | 15.6% |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cedar Rapids Comm School District | Trenton Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.9°F | 39.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" ✓ Drier | 47.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 26.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,929 ✓ Larger | 90,055 |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 35.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.6% ✓ Higher | 38.3% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 25.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 12.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cedar Rapids's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Trenton's 102.1 (US average = 100).
Cedar Rapids is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cedar Rapids leads 17 of 23 categories. Cedar Rapids wins 17 and Trenton wins 6. 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 Trenton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($167,900 vs $111,200 median home), income ($66,895 vs $44,444), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cedar Rapids, IA and Trenton, NJ are about 887 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.