Cedar Rapids IA vs Fort Lauderdale FL — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Cedar Rapids, IA

Iowa · Population: 136,859

Median HH Income$67,859
Median Home Price$210,271
Unemployment3.9%
Bachelor's+32.9%

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Florida · Population: 183,032

Median HH Income$79,935
Median Home Price$510,297
Unemployment5.3%
Bachelor's+39.8%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population

Cedar Rapids

136,859

Fort Lauderdale

183,032

Fort Lauderdale +

Pop. Density / sq mi

Lower = more space

Cedar Rapids

N/A

Fort Lauderdale

N/A

Median Age

Cedar Rapids

36.9

Cedar Rapids +

Fort Lauderdale

42.9

Foreign Born

Cedar Rapids

7.1%

Fort Lauderdale

26.7%

Fort Lauderdale +

White

Cedar Rapids

79.7%

Cedar Rapids +

Fort Lauderdale

51.3%

Black

Cedar Rapids

8.5%

Fort Lauderdale

28.8%

Fort Lauderdale +

Asian

Cedar Rapids

2.5%

Cedar Rapids +

Fort Lauderdale

1.6%

Hispanic

Cedar Rapids

5.1%

Fort Lauderdale

20.1%

Fort Lauderdale +

Spanish at Home

Cedar Rapids

N/A

Fort Lauderdale

N/A

Metric	Cedar Rapids, IA	Fort Lauderdale, FL	Better
Population	136,859	183,032	Fort Lauderdale +
Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space	N/A	N/A	-
Median Age	36.9	42.9	Cedar Rapids +
Foreign Born	7.1%	26.7%	Fort Lauderdale +
White	79.7%	51.3%	Cedar Rapids +
Black	8.5%	28.8%	Fort Lauderdale +
Asian	2.5%	1.6%	Cedar Rapids +
Hispanic	5.1%	20.1%	Fort Lauderdale +
Spanish at Home	N/A	N/A	-

Economy

Median HH Income

Cedar Rapids

$67,859

Fort Lauderdale

$79,935

Fort Lauderdale +

Per Capita Income

Cedar Rapids

$39,824

Fort Lauderdale

$57,845

Fort Lauderdale +

Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)

BEA MSA-level

Cedar Rapids

$61,226

Fort Lauderdale

$65,328

Fort Lauderdale +

Unemployment Rate

Cedar Rapids

3.9%

Cedar Rapids +

Fort Lauderdale

5.3%

Poverty Rate

Cedar Rapids

11.8%

Cedar Rapids +

Fort Lauderdale

15.2%

Bachelor's Degree+

Cedar Rapids

32.9%

Fort Lauderdale

39.8%

Fort Lauderdale +

Metric	Cedar Rapids, IA	Fort Lauderdale, FL	Better
Median HH Income	$67,859	$79,935	Fort Lauderdale +
Per Capita Income	$39,824	$57,845	Fort Lauderdale +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level	$61,226	$65,328	Fort Lauderdale +
Unemployment Rate	3.9%	5.3%	Cedar Rapids +
Poverty Rate	11.8%	15.2%	Cedar Rapids +
Bachelor's Degree+	32.9%	39.8%	Fort Lauderdale +

Housing

Median Home Value

Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS

Cedar Rapids

$210,271

Cedar Rapids +

Fort Lauderdale

$510,297

Homeownership Rate

Cedar Rapids

68.2%

Cedar Rapids +

Fort Lauderdale

53.8%

Metric	Cedar Rapids, IA	Fort Lauderdale, FL	Better
Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS	$210,271	$510,297	Cedar Rapids +
Homeownership Rate	68.2%	53.8%	Cedar Rapids +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Cedar Rapids

296

Cedar Rapids +

Fort Lauderdale

324

Property Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Cedar Rapids

1452

Cedar Rapids +

Fort Lauderdale

1453

Metric	Cedar Rapids, IA	Fort Lauderdale, FL	Better
Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	296	324	Cedar Rapids +
Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	1452	1453	Cedar Rapids +

Health

Obesity Rate

CDC PLACES

Cedar Rapids

36.3%

Fort Lauderdale

30.3%

Fort Lauderdale +

Diabetes Rate

CDC PLACES

Cedar Rapids

11.1%

Cedar Rapids +

Fort Lauderdale

12.8%

Poor Mental Health

CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month

Cedar Rapids

17.4%

Fort Lauderdale

16.2%

Fort Lauderdale +

No Health Insurance

CDC PLACES

Cedar Rapids

7.2%

Cedar Rapids +

Fort Lauderdale

14.7%

Binge Drinking

CDC PLACES

Cedar Rapids

20.4%

Fort Lauderdale

14.9%

Fort Lauderdale +

Current Smokers

CDC PLACES

Cedar Rapids

14.6%

Fort Lauderdale

13.0%

Fort Lauderdale +

Metric	Cedar Rapids, IA	Fort Lauderdale, FL	Better
Obesity RateCDC PLACES	36.3%	30.3%	Fort Lauderdale +
Diabetes RateCDC PLACES	11.1%	12.8%	Cedar Rapids +
Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month	17.4%	16.2%	Fort Lauderdale +
No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES	7.2%	14.7%	Cedar Rapids +
Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES	20.4%	14.9%	Fort Lauderdale +
Current SmokersCDC PLACES	14.6%	13.0%	Fort Lauderdale +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Cedar Rapids

50.3°F

Cedar Rapids +

Fort Lauderdale

75.5°F

Annual Precipitation

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Cedar Rapids

37.6 in

Cedar Rapids +

Fort Lauderdale

66.5 in

Metric	Cedar Rapids, IA	Fort Lauderdale, FL	Better
Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal	50.3°F	75.5°F	Cedar Rapids +
Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal	37.6 in	66.5 in	Cedar Rapids +

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg

EPA AQS (state-level est.)

Cedar Rapids

10.2 µg/m³

Fort Lauderdale

7.2 µg/m³

Fort Lauderdale +

Good Air Days

AQI ≤ 50

Cedar Rapids

55.0%

Fort Lauderdale

75.0%

Fort Lauderdale +

Metric	Cedar Rapids, IA	Fort Lauderdale, FL	Better
PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.)	10.2 µg/m³	7.2 µg/m³	Fort Lauderdale +
Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50	55.0%	75.0%	Fort Lauderdale +

Commute

Mean Commute Time

Census ACS

Cedar Rapids

19.4 min

Cedar Rapids +

Fort Lauderdale

28.5 min

Metric	Cedar Rapids, IA	Fort Lauderdale, FL	Better
Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS	19.4 min	28.5 min	Cedar Rapids +

Which City is Right for You?

Fort Lauderdale leads in median household income at $79,935, while cedar Rapids offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $210,271. On public safety, Cedar Rapids is safer with a violent crime rate of 296 per 100,000 residents, compared to 324 in Fort Lauderdale. Cedar Rapids has a lower unemployment rate at 3.9%, and Fort Lauderdale has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Fort Lauderdale scores better with a lower obesity rate of 30.3%.

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About Cedar Rapids & Fort Lauderdale

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