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Cedar Rapids, IA

Population: 129,537 livability score shield

Key findings

  • Cedar Rapids has a Livability Score of 76/100, which is considered exceptional
  • Cedar Rapids crime rates are 53% higher than the Iowa average
  • Cost of living in Cedar Rapids is 3% higher than the Iowa average
  • Cedar Rapids real estate prices are 3% higher than the Iowa average
  • Rental prices in Cedar Rapids are 1% lower than the Iowa average

Best Places to Live in and Around Cedar Rapids

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Compare Cedar Rapids, IA Livability

      vs

      What do the locals think about Cedar Rapids?

      72%Family friendly 33%Public transit is accessible 39%Walkable to grocery stores 50%Yards are well-kept 50%Lots of parks 28%Walkable to restaurants 56%Friendly neighbors 56%Safe at night 72%Pet friendly 67%Streets have sidewalks 50%A quiet area 72%Sense of community
      Based on 18 votes from AreaVibes users. See all Cedar Rapids poll results.

      Cedar Rapids Real estate & Rental prices

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      Cedar Rapids Demographics

      Population129,537 Median Age35.7 Have Kids (under 18)48%
      See more Cedar Rapids demographic data

      Cedar Rapids, IA

      Cedar Rapids is the largest city in Eastern Iowa, and it is home to over 130,000 residents. The city is also the sight of the National Czech & Slovak Museum where you can learn all about the history and culture of the area's early settlers. Mays Island is a unique attraction as it is one of a handful of islands in the world that actually are located within a city's main city limits. Cedar Rapids is also home to a surprisingly large Muslim community. This is a testament to the kindhearted nature of the town that welcomes newcomers to the area with open arms.

      The area offers a lot of good employment opportunities, especially for those workers who have a higher education. Rockwell Collins is one of the top employers. This defense contractor provides equipment that the military uses to remain the most dominant force in the world. AEGON USA is another large employer that specializes in agricultural products. Hy-Vee Food Stores is consistently recognized as one of the best employees in the area to work for thanks to its generous benefits package.

      Transportation around Cedar Rapids is not difficult thanks to a public infrastructure system that was designed with the city's growth in mind. Interstate 380 is the main freeway that cuts through the city, and it can be taken to get to communities in the surrounding area. Cedar Rapids Transit provides public transportation services for those who are more comfortable having a seat on the bus and letting someone else take the wheel. It has a large number of routes that can get you to most points in the city.

      Brucemore is a historic mansion that offers visitors a glimpse into what life was like in Cedar Rapids before the introduction of cars and all of the modern day gizmos and gadgets that make life comfortable. Cedar Rapids also has a large art museum that offers a surprisingly modern take on art. It is one of the best art collections in the entire state and it is free on many days of the month to offer students and children a chance to appreciate the artists' work.

      Home prices in Cedar Rapids are higher than other areas of the state, but they are still low when compared with most other parts of the country. Czech Village, Wellington Heights, and Kenwood Park are just three of the many neighborhoods that are popular for those looking to buy or rent a home in Cedar Rapids. The Cedar Rapids Community School District operates over 30 schools from K-12 to meet the education needs of the city's children. With over 15,000 students in the district, it is quite the task for educators.

      Top Rated Schools in Cedar Rapids

      Name Grades Students Proficiency
      Viola Gibson Elementary SchoolPK - 557882%
      Bowman Woods Elementary SchoolKG - 545981%
      John F Kennedy High School9 - 121,79580%
      Prairie Ridge Elementary SchoolPK - 445680%
      Truman Elementary SchoolKG - 529077%
      Prairie Hill Elementary SchoolPK - 449977%
      Coolidge Elementary SchoolPK - 547777%
      Taft Middle School6 - 859275%
      See all Cedar Rapids schools

      The best places in Iowa

      Here are the best places to live in IowaTop 10 best public schools in Cedar RapidsThese are the 10 most affordable cities in Iowa10 Best cities in Iowa for employment

      Cedar Rapids Reviews

      Write a review about Cedar Rapids Tell people what you like or don't like about Cedar Rapids…
      Cedar Rapids, IA..... Boring!
      Attractions3/10
      Community6/10
      Nightlife3/10
      Dining3/10
      Shopping4/10
      I've lived in Cedar Rapids, Iowa for over 10 years, mostly because of family. There isn't anything that's really interesting to do here, unless you like golf, camping, fishing, movie theater, museums... Basically, there are no exciting attractions here in my opinion. Could really use more attractions here. Doesn't have any "amazing" restaurants, either... if you like to shop, this isn't your place... we have 2 malls, both are fairly small. I would definitely not recommend living here if you want attractions where you can have fun, amazingly amazing food, or love to shop. Not very exciting here. At all. Boo. :P
      • Brandi
      • Sep 16, 2013
      2 -8
      Cedar Rapids, IA - A Fun City In The Midwest
      Attractions10/10
      Community9/10
      Nightlife8/10
      Dining8/10
      Shopping8/10
      My family and I traveled to the city of Cedar Rapids last summer and had a wonderful vacation. We were traveling to Minneapolis and fell in love with Cedar Rapids as we were passing through. We decided to stay a couple of days, and were glad that we did. Cedar Rapids is not only full of exciting attractions and things to do and see, but the city itself is actually a very beautiful place.

      We love arts and culture and were surprised to find the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, the Paramount Theatre, and the Iowa Cultural Corridor Alliance all in one area. Cedar Rapids is also home to the minor-league baseball team, the Cedar Rapids Kernels. We were able to watch a game and were excited when the team won. We were lucky to find two great restaurants that we thoroughly enjoyed, the Biaggi's Ristorante Italiano and the Granite City Food & Brewery. The hotel we stayed at was the Crowne Plaza Five Seasons Cedar Rapids in downtown Cedar Rapids and again no complaints. We are already planning our next vacation to Cedar Rapids this fall.
      • Anonymous
      • Jun 03, 2010
      8 -1
      Source: The Cedar Rapids, IA data and statistics displayed above are derived from the 2016 United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
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