Moving to a new city like Cedar Rapids, Iowa can be intimidating. You need to figure out whether to make the move, where to live, what to do for fun, and more—often without the benefits of an insider’s perspective. Luckily, we’re here to help. We’ll go over the pros and cons of moving to Cedar Rapids, IA; what to do in Cedar Rapids; where the best neighborhoods are; and what the options are for school districts. Whether you’re moving alone or with a family, by the end, you’ll have a much better idea of whether Cedar Rapids is a good place for you to live.
Table of Contents
About Cedar Rapids, IA
First, a brief overview of Cedar Rapids, IA: Cedar Rapids is a historic city in east-central Iowa. In fact, it’s the second-largest city in the state, with a current population of over 135,000.
Cedar Rapids has a rich history. It contains plenty of shopping and entertainment opportunities and includes a range of school districts and neighborhoods to choose from.
Pros and Cons of Moving to Cedar Rapids, IA
Like every city, moving to Cedar Rapids comes with pros and cons. We’ll go over some of them here. For more information, check out our other posts on whether moving to Cedar Rapids is really worth it and why Cedar Rapids is a good place to live.
Pro: The Cost of Living
One big upside of moving to Cedar Rapids, Iowa is the cost of living. The cost of living in Cedar Rapids is 9% lower than the national average. As housing prices soar in other areas, Cedar Rapids is also experiencing a rise in housing costs. However, the price of a typical home is still 25% less than the national average.
With the low cost of living in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, young people like students and professionals can live closer to the action in the heart of the city. Similarly, families can benefit by having higher-quality homes and more money to invest in their children’s future. Thus, the low cost of living in Cedar Rapids, Iowa makes it a good place to live.
Pro: Educational Opportunities
Another huge upside of life in Cedar Rapids is access to education. Cedar Rapids is home to some of the largest school districts in Iowa, with a variety of public and private schools to choose from, including a virtual option. Public schools in this area are above average.
The colleges located in Cedar Rapids add to the educational atmosphere. Coe College, Mount Mercy University, and Kirkwood Community College are schools that bring opportunity and vibrance to Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Pro: Transportation
Cedar Rapids is in a solid location. It’s within five hours of major Midwestern cities, from Chicago to St. Louis and Minneapolis. In Cedar Rapids, you’ll also have easy access to the Eastern Iowa Airport for your air travel needs.
Within the city, the Cedar Rapids bus service offers a variety of routes in different areas free of charge.
Pro: Food Scene
The food scene in Cedar Rapids will certainly please your palate. Cedar Rapids has ample locally owned restaurants with diverse types of dining—which it features in its annual Restaurant Week. It’s also known for its craft beer.
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Con: City Life
Some of the major downsides of living in Cedar Rapids are features of city life. Cedar Rapids has a higher crime rate than many other cities in Iowa, largely due to property crimes. In addition, the local water pollution control facility can create a rotten egg smell in the air on occasion.
What To Do In Cedar Rapids
Now you know a little more about life in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Here, we’ll dive into what the locals do for fun. For a closer look at activities in Cedar Rapids, you can check out our post on top things to do in the area.
Arts and Culture
You’ll find ample arts and culture after moving to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. These opportunities range from the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art—which heavily features Cedar Rapids artist Grant Wood—to the African-American Museum of Iowa and the National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library. For live entertainment and community-building, Cedar Rapids is home to the Ideal Theater & Bar and the NewBo City Market as well.
Nightlife
Cedar Rapids has various nightlife options, from bars to music venues. In the summer, the Freedom Festival lasts three weeks and features a huge fireworks show. You can also stop by Market After Dark, an event that highlights the many local vendors.
Recreation and Sports
Cedar Rapids gives you great opportunities for recreation, including miles and miles of trails and parks for walking or biking. Some highlights are the Cedar River Trail and the Indian Creek Nature Center.
Cedar Rapids also has several sports teams: the Iowa Raptors FC (soccer), the Cedar Rapids Kernels (baseball), and the Rough Riders (hockey). You can get tickets to games for affordable prices and find plenty of spirit!
Best Cedar Rapids, IA Neighborhoods
Cedar Rapids, Iowa offers a variety of quality neighborhoods, making it a good place to live. These areas include The District, Cedar Hills, Covington, Otis, and New Buffalo. We’ve gone over these neighborhoods in more detail in another post as well.
The District
The District contains Czech Village and New Bohemia and sits on the south end of Cedar Rapids. It arose from the Sinclair Meatpacking Plant, which attracted people to the area. It has a variety of schools nearby, as well as being home to many of Cedar Rapid’s entertainment and dining venues.
Cedar Hills
Cedar Hills is a great place for families, with schools and parks galore, including Cherry Hill Park. It’s also a very affordable area.
Worthington Acres
Worthington Acres is a suburban neighborhood with plenty of houses and apartments. It’s a more modern region that contains many residents of German descent, as well as local schools.
Covington
Covington is a small neighborhood right off the highway on the outskirts of the city. It has higher home prices and is slightly farther from schools, yet provides suburban life with easy access to the city.
Otis
Otis is located by the Cedar River, which provides water lovers with opportunities for recreation. It is a fairly affordable neighborhood with many close schools.
New Buffalo
New Buffalo is right off the highway and contains older homes from the 1970s and 1980s. It has slightly higher costs and is only fifteen minutes from downtown Cedar Rapids.
Cedar Rapids, IA School Districts
Cedar Rapids, IA has three school districts: the Cedar Rapids School District, the College Community School District, and the Linn Mar School District. We cover these school districts in depth in another post.
Cedar Rapids School District
The Cedar Rapids School District was formed in 1972 from the merging of several township schools. Now, it’s the second-largest district in Iowa. It is located in the heart of Cedar Rapids and contains four high schools, six middle schools, and twenty-one elementary schools, as well as nontraditional education options. The graduation rate from its high schools is 72% overall.
College Community School District
The College Community School District dates to 1954 and is located southwest of Cedar Rapids, including smaller towns near Cedar Rapids as well. It contains one high school, one middle school, and six elementary schools. The graduation rate from its high school is 93%.
Linn Mar School District
The Linn Mar School District, founded in 1948, is in northeastern Cedar Rapids and includes surrounding towns. It contains one high school, two middle schools, and seven elementary schools. It has the highest graduation rate of the local school districts at 96%.
Cedar Rapids, IA Moving Company
If you’re set on making the move, next up on your moving checklist is to look into moving companies in Cedar Rapids. UniMovers offers services in Cedar Rapids and supports local college students and nonprofit organizations by donating a portion of every move to a scholarship fund and annual nonprofit donations. Not only that, but UniMovers is a labor-only moving company in Cedar Rapids that offers affordable services with no hidden fees!
Conclusion
We’ve gone over the basics of moving to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. We covered many reasons that Cedar Rapids is a good place to live, including the low cost of living, education, transportation, and food. One of the cons is crime in the city.
There are many things to do in Cedar Rapids, from arts and culture opportunities to the nightlife and sports and recreation. Cedar Rapids also offers a variety of neighborhoods and three school districts to choose from. Lastly, if you need a moving company in Cedar Rapids, UniMovers is an affordable choice!
FAQs
Cedar Rapids, Iowa offers an affordable cost of living and a strong education system. It is conveniently near large Midwestern cities and has an airport. Plus the food scene is great. However, Cedar Rapids does contain above-average property theft.
Some attractions in Cedar Rapids include the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art with attached Grant Wood Studio, the African-American Museum of Iowa, and the NewBo City Market. Cedar Rapids also boasts nightlife opportunities, three sports teams, and ample trails for outdoor recreation.
Cedar Rapids contains three school districts: Cedar Rapids School District, College Community School District, and Linn Mar School District.
Sophie Pollack-Milgate has a day job as a bioethics research assistant. In her free time, she likes to read books critiquing psychiatry, complain about how either ice or heat are ruining her runs (depending on the season), and modify recipes beyond recognition.
