Cedar Rapids is in the east-central region of Iowa and is home to a growing population of about 140,000. If you’re considering moving to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, you should be excited. Here are ten reasons Cedar Rapids is a good place to live, from the educational opportunities and sustainability to the transportation and education.
Table of Contents
1. History
Cedar Rapids has a fascinating history, and there are a variety of historic attractions that people living in Cedar Rapids can explore.
The town formed along the banks of the Cedar River and was originally named Rapids City. After being incorporated in 1849, it got its present name and developed a strong agricultural economy.
Eventually, many settlers from central Europe came to Cedar Rapids. Now, Cedar Rapids is home to the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library, which hosts exhibitions and events. You can also visit the Iowa Masonic Library and Museum, the first Masonic library building in the world, and the Brucemore, a historic mansion.
Cedar Rapids is the site of the Grant Wood Studio, where this painter created famous works, including American Gothic. The Cedar Rapids Museum of Art houses many of Wood’s works.
If all this isn’t enough, Cedar Rapids also houses the Mother Mosque of America, the first and oldest mosque in North America. This mosque dates back to the Great Depression when it was built by community members.
Lastly, living in Cedar Rapids puts you close to the African American Museum of Iowa, a valuable source of information about Black history and culture in the state.
2. Affordability
Another perk of moving to Cedar Rapids, Iowa is the cost of living. The cost of living in Cedar Rapids is 11% lower than the national average.
Housing is particularly affordable in Cedar Rapids, as housing expenses in this city are 29% lower than the national average. In Cedar Rapids, the median rent is under $1,000 per month, and the median home price is around $320,000.
Although the costs of utilities, groceries, and transportation in Cedar Rapids are closer to the national average, they are still below average, and the low housing costs more than make up for it!
3. Entertainment
Moving to Cedar Rapids, Iowa gives you ample options for entertainment.
One attraction is the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, which has rotating exhibitions spanning Roman antiquity to the modern day. The museum is particularly famous for its collection of twentieth-century American art.
The Paramount Theatre, which hosts shows, music, and more, gives you other opportunities to experience the art and culture of Cedar Rapids.
For more entertainment, you can visit the Cedar Rapids Czech Village & New Bohemia District, two historic neighborhoods. These neighborhoods contained large Czech and Slovak communities and were hubs for agriculture and manufacturing. Now, many people visit for shopping, arts, culture, restaurants, and nightlife.
Within the district, one highlight is the NewBo City Market. This market is a nonprofit space with a variety of food and retail businesses, as well as events.
Lastly, Cedar Rapids also has opportunities for sports fans. You can visit the ballpark to watch the Kernels play, or you can see a RoughRiders hockey match.
4. Sustainability
Cedar Rapids’ devotion to sustainability makes it a good place to live.
The city is involved in a variety of efforts to ensure access to clean air and water, healthy food, and green space for its residents as part of its 2021 Community Climate Action Plan. Cedar Rapids hopes to become a carbon-free community where people rely on walking, biking, and buses for transit. For example, it has initiatives to create community gardens and solar energy, alongside many other efforts.
Indeed, Cedar Rapids has some of the cleanest air in America. Moreover, the state of Iowa is a leader in wind energy.
5. Food Scene
Cedar Rapids has a thriving food scene.
One highlight is the NewBo City market, where you can buy a variety of fresh food, from bread to sausages, and find a wide variety of cuisines. Otherwise, you can find a variety of restaurants, ranging from fine dining to more casual settings.
For drinks, Cedar Rapids is known for its breweries. Some local favorites include Clock House Brewing and Lion Bridge Brewing Company.
If you prefer to do your own cooking, you can visit the huge Cedar Rapids Downtown Farmers Market, which has over 200 vendors per market. One of the market’s most popular events is the Market After Dark, which features food, drinks, and entertainment.
6. Transportation
Many people drive in Cedar Rapids, with the average commute time of eighteen minutes being less than the national average. However, another perk of living in Cedar Rapids, Iowa is that there are other options for transit.
Cedar Rapids is a great place to bike. The city operates a bike share program, which includes bikes with electric assistance as well as scooters. There are bike lanes downtown, and the city even operates a Bike to Work Week in May.
Cedar Rapids has a bus service throughout the city. Fare is free on Saturdays, and the buses come with bike racks, which also help support people who choose to bike.
For longer-distance travel, Cedar Rapids is home to the Eastern Iowa Airport. Nearly thirty percent of the air travel in the state goes through this airport, the second largest in Iowa.
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7. Outdoor Recreation
Cedar Rapids is a good place to live for outdoor recreation fans.
Cedar Rapids is home to ninety-seven parks. The city sponsors various public facilities, including golf courses, swimming pools, sports complexes, a greenhouse, and trails. It also offers over 1500 recreation programs every year.
For families, some of the highlights include Old MacDonald’s Farm, a free petting farm with animals like chickens, lambs, and rabbits. There’s also the Indian Creek Nature Center, which has four miles of trails in prairies, woods, and wetlands.
Many people enjoy the 12.6-mile Cedar River Trail, which runs through the downtown as well as through regions of prairies. The trail is great for walking, running, biking, and skating. It also connects to the larger Cedar Valley Nature Trail, which spans over 50 miles.
There are a variety of other trails in the area as well, including mountain biking trails and trails through wooded areas. You can also find areas for camping, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, and fishing within the county.
8. Location
Cedar Rapids lies in Linn County, with the Cedar River running through the City. Nearby are a variety of other communities for day trips.
Mount Vernon and Lisbon, Iowa are both historic communities in the region; Mount Vernon has been named one of America’s Coolest Small Towns.
The Amana Colonies are also fun places to visit within twenty miles of Cedar Rapids. They have been shaped by German heritage and are now a National Historic Landmark. The villages offer historic homes and beautiful surroundings, alongside other attractions like art and wineries.
Yet another stop close to Cedar Rapids is Iowa City, a UNESCO City of Literature with a variety of artistic and cultural attractions to explore.
The capital of Iowa, Des Moines, is about two hours away. It’s the largest city in Iowa and has a lot to offer, from shopping malls to family attractions and historic areas.
Lastly, if you’re in the mood for a road trip, you can reach Chicago, St. Louis, Minneapolis, Omaha, Kansas City, and St Louis in about five hours or less.
With all these fun cities nearby, Cedar Rapids is in a great location for people who like weekend trips.
9. Education
Cedar Rapids, Iowa has three school districts, providing different options for families moving there. Mount Vernon High School is one of the top schools and is ranked the sixteenth-best high school in Iowa; it has a 97% graduation rate, higher than the median for the state.
There are also multiple colleges in Cedar Rapids. These include several private schools: Mount Mercy University, Cornell College, and Coe College. Kirkwood Community College is also in the area.
Cedar Rapids has invested in developing its so-called College District near the downtown. Thus, these colleges offer those living in Cedar Rapids, Iowa access to events and continuing education, as well as contributing to the city.
10. Economic Opportunity
Cedar Rapids has a strong economy.
This growing region has strong manufacturing, food processing, agriculture, and educational technology sectors, among others.
The largest employer in Cedar Rapids is the aviation communications company Rockwell Collins—but many other recognizable companies are there as well, including General Mills and Quaker Oats. Thus, there are plenty of jobs for those moving to Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Iowa as a whole has been ranked the second-best US state for doing business due to factors like a low rate of business failure and very low energy bills. Iowa also has a very high employment rate compared to the rest of the country. Thus, if you’re looking for economic opportunity, Cedar Rapids is a good place to live.
Cedar Rapids Moving Company
Clearly, Cedar Rapids is a great place to live! If you’re sold on making the move, the next step is to look into moving companies. For a moving company with connections to the Cedar Rapids community, consider hiring UniMovers to help with your relocation needs.
UniMovers is a labor-only moving company that charges affordable hourly rates. Founded by a former Coe College student, the company donates a portion of its proceeds to the local Cedar Rapids Catherine McAuley Center. Thus, hiring UniMovers is a smart financial move and a good way to support local businesses and nonprofits in Cedar Rapids.
Conclusion
Now you know whether moving to Cedar Rapids, Iowa is worth it for you. To recap, Cedar Rapids has an interesting history with many local historical attractions. It has a lot to offer in terms of entertainment and is a city invested in sustainability. There’s a good food scene, as well as access to transportation besides cars.
There are plenty of opportunities to be outdoors near Cedar Rapids, as well as many nearby attractions worth traveling to. Cedar Rapids benefits from its colleges and has a strong economy. Finally, Cedar Rapids is home to UniMovers, a local moving company for you to work with as you move.
Sophie Pollack-Milgate has a day job as a research assistant. In her free time, she likes to read 10% of the library books she checks out, complain about how either ice or heat are ruining her runs (depending on the season), and modify recipes beyond recognition.
