Relocation profile · Federal data
Cedar Rapids, IA
LiveAbility 62.6/100 places Cedar Rapids #31 of 387 (top third of scored metros).
- 89.0
- Cost index (US=100)
- $956
- 2BR rent / mo
- $63,268
- Median salary
- 62.6
- LiveAbility Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Cedar Rapids ranks #31 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (62.6/100), with its strongest marks in housing and cost of living.
- #31
- of 387 US metros · Excellent
- 3,241,488
- metro-area population
- 238
- violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
- 1,326
- schools in the state (NCES)
Weakest dimension: low hazard (25/100). Weigh every dimension against your own priorities, use the City Finder to re-rank by what matters to you.
According to PlainRelocate's LiveAbility composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, EPA, NOAA, and FEMA inputs), Cedar Rapids ranks #31 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 89.0 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $956/mo, median salary $63,268; LiveAbility Score 62.6/100, strongest in housing and cost of living.
Signature: LiveAbility 62.6/100 places Cedar Rapids #31 of 387 (top third of scored metros).
Purchasing power opens up: BEA RPP 89.0 lands in the cheaper third of scored metros (cuts at 91.5 / 97.0). Median 2BR rent $956/mo.
LiveAbility 62.6/100 puts Cedar Rapids in the top third (#31 of 387).
BLS OEWS total employment in the Cedar Rapids area is 133,750.
Cedar Rapids vs all US metros by LiveAbility Score
Where this metro's LiveAbility Score falls among every scored US metro (composite placement, not a desirability verdict)
63 Top 8% higher than 92% of 387 US metros
Metros banded by LiveAbility Score (0–100)
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source PlainRelocate LiveAbility Score · June 2026
Cedar Rapids housing and rent
HUD Fair Market Rents for the Cedar Rapids MSA; housing RPP 71.4 (100 = national average); 2BR $956/mo.
Cedar Rapids wages and employment
Cedar Rapids posts 133,750 total employment with median salary $63,268 against a cheaper-than-average RPP.
Top Occupations by Employment
| Occupation | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,280 |
| Retail Salespersons | $33,430 |
| Customer Service Representatives | $45,510 |
| Cashiers | $29,270 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $58,900 |
Schools & Education
State-level education data for the Cedar Rapids area from NCES.
Childcare Costs
State-average childcare costs for the Cedar Rapids area (DOL data).
Life Score Breakdown
Cedar Rapids's composite Life Score is 64/100 (C), computed across 7 of 7 dimensions.
LiveAbility Score
View full rankings →Cedar Rapids ranks #31 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 62.6/100 - a composite of 8 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data. Customize the weights to match your priorities →
Cedar Rapids - dimension scores
Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Housing
Housing
97 /100
- Cost of living
Cost of living
81 /100
- Safety
Safety
73 /100
- Schools
Schools
56 /100
- Air quality
Air quality
51 /100
- Job market
Job market
50 /100
- Climate 35
Climate
35 /100
- Low hazard 25
Low hazard
25 /100
What this shows Cedar Rapids's strongest dimensions are housing and cost of living; its weakest among scored dims is low hazard at 25/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%.
Compare Cedar Rapids to
Metros near Cedar Rapids on cost, LiveAbility, or wages
Nearest out-of-state neighbors to Cedar Rapids on BEA RPP, LiveAbility, or BLS median salary, a different lens than the size-ranked list.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
Cedar Rapids cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Cedar Rapids wages and LiveAbility inputs follow BLS OEWS plus the federal sources listed in methodology. This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Scores are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation. How this data is sourced.
Verify with BEA → · Verify with BLS → · Verify with HUD → · Verify with NOAA → · Verify with FEMA → · Verify with Census →
Thinking about Cedar Rapids?
Cedar Rapids runs a $63,268 median salary at a 89.0 cost index, ranking #31 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.
- See exactly what Cedar Rapids's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
- Put Cedar Rapids head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare Cedar Rapids
- Abilene is the closest related metro in this corpus -- see how it stacks up. Abilene profile
- A cheaper cost index and a higher LiveAbility score don't always point the same direction -- here's how to weigh the trade-off. Cost vs quality guide
Cost, salary and score figures are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation.