Cedar Rapids vs Des Moines
Compare Cedar Rapids, IA and Des Moines, IA on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Cedar Rapids is the cheaper metro on paper: ACS median rent runs $863/mo versus $1,063/mo in Des Moines — a gap of about $200/mo — and HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents show $941/mo against $1,080/mo. Across the four public-data screens (cost/climate, work, daily life, community) the metros land close together (234 vs 239 summed points), so the right pick depends on which tradeoffs you can live with.
Climate is a real differentiator: Cedar Rapids runs summer highs near 84°F and winter lows near 3°F, while Des Moines runs 86°F and 14°F. If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Cedar Rapids; if walkable daily life matters more, Des Moines screens stronger on the walkability proxy (9 vs 7). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Cedar Rapids leads 66 to 63 on the cost and climate screen.
Both cities are close on the work screen.
Des Moines leads 39 to 35 on the daily life screen.
Des Moines leads 60 to 55 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Cedar Rapids is roughly $51,000 in Des Moines using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Cedar Rapids | Des Moines | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $863/mo | $1,063/mo | Cedar Rapids |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $941/mo | $1,080/mo | Cedar Rapids |
| Median home value | $187,000 | $236,000 | Cedar Rapids |
| State income tax | 3.8% | 3.8% | Tie |
| Average commute | 21.5 min | 22.4 min | Cedar Rapids |
| Safety score | 64/100 | 62/100 | Cedar Rapids |
| School score | 7/10 | 8/10 | Des Moines |
| Walkability estimate | 7/100 | 9/100 | Des Moines |
| Outdoor score | 6/10 | 6/10 | Tie |
| Restaurants per 100k | 172.3 | 175.0 | Des Moines |
| Mountain distance | 229 mi | 222 mi | Des Moines |
| Coast distance | 793 mi | 801 mi | Cedar Rapids |
What stands out
Cedar Rapids stronger signals
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
- Ski location within 55 miles
- More affordable than many peer metros
- Shorter average commute
Cedar Rapids tradeoffs
- Higher natural disaster risk
- Cold winters
Des Moines stronger signals
- Public park/protected-area signal within 0 miles
- Ski location within 35 miles
- Strong education proxy
- More affordable than many peer metros
Des Moines tradeoffs
- Higher natural disaster risk
- Cold winters
Common questions
Is Cedar Rapids cheaper than Des Moines?
On public benchmarks Cedar Rapids is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $863/mo in Cedar Rapids vs $1,063/mo in Des Moines; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $941/mo vs $1,080/mo; state income tax is 3.8% vs 3.8%.
Is Cedar Rapids or Des Moines safer?
Cedar Rapids screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 64/100 for Cedar Rapids and 62/100 for Des Moines (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Cedar Rapids or Des Moines?
School screens show 7/10 for Cedar Rapids vs 8/10 for Des Moines, alongside the safety scores above. It is a metro-level screen; verify specific school districts before weighting it heavily.
How different is the climate between Cedar Rapids and Des Moines?
Cedar Rapids: summer highs near 84°F, winter lows near 3°F, disaster-risk band 3/3. Des Moines: 86°F / 14°F, disaster-risk band 3/3 (NOAA climate normals).
Keep researching
Score this comparison with your own constraints
Public comparison pages use equal-weighted signals. The questionnaire reweights cities around your housing budget, climate preferences, work needs, family needs, and daily-life priorities.
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