Cedar Rapids IA vs Jonesboro AR — 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%

Jonesboro, AR

Arkansas · Population: N/A

Median HH IncomeN/A
Median Home Price$225,577
UnemploymentN/A
Bachelor's+N/A

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population

Cedar Rapids

136,859

Jonesboro

N/A

Pop. Density / sq mi

Lower = more space

Cedar Rapids

N/A

Jonesboro

N/A

Median Age

Cedar Rapids

36.9

Jonesboro

N/A

Foreign Born

Cedar Rapids

7.1%

Jonesboro

N/A

White

Cedar Rapids

79.7%

Jonesboro

N/A

Black

Cedar Rapids

8.5%

Jonesboro

N/A

Asian

Cedar Rapids

2.5%

Jonesboro

N/A

Hispanic

Cedar Rapids

5.1%

Jonesboro

N/A

Spanish at Home

Cedar Rapids

N/A

Jonesboro

N/A

Metric	Cedar Rapids, IA	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Population	136,859	N/A	-
Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space	N/A	N/A	-
Median Age	36.9	N/A	-
Foreign Born	7.1%	N/A	-
White	79.7%	N/A	-
Black	8.5%	N/A	-
Asian	2.5%	N/A	-
Hispanic	5.1%	N/A	-
Spanish at Home	N/A	N/A	-

Economy

Median HH Income

Cedar Rapids

$67,859

Jonesboro

N/A

Per Capita Income

Cedar Rapids

$39,824

Jonesboro

N/A

Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)

BEA MSA-level

Cedar Rapids

$61,226

Cedar Rapids +

Jonesboro

$53,714

Unemployment Rate

Cedar Rapids

3.9%

Jonesboro

N/A

Poverty Rate

Cedar Rapids

11.8%

Jonesboro

N/A

Bachelor's Degree+

Cedar Rapids

32.9%

Jonesboro

N/A

Metric	Cedar Rapids, IA	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Median HH Income	$67,859	N/A	-
Per Capita Income	$39,824	N/A	-
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level	$61,226	$53,714	Cedar Rapids +
Unemployment Rate	3.9%	N/A	-
Poverty Rate	11.8%	N/A	-
Bachelor's Degree+	32.9%	N/A	-

Housing

Median Home Value

Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS

Cedar Rapids

$210,271

Cedar Rapids +

Jonesboro

$225,577

Homeownership Rate

Cedar Rapids

68.2%

Jonesboro

N/A

Metric	Cedar Rapids, IA	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS	$210,271	$225,577	Cedar Rapids +
Homeownership Rate	68.2%	N/A	-

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Cedar Rapids

296

Cedar Rapids +

Jonesboro

660

Property Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Cedar Rapids

1452

Cedar Rapids +

Jonesboro

2507

Metric	Cedar Rapids, IA	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	296	660	Cedar Rapids +
Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	1452	2507	Cedar Rapids +

Health

Obesity Rate

CDC PLACES

Cedar Rapids

36.3%

Cedar Rapids +

Jonesboro

39.2%

Diabetes Rate

CDC PLACES

Cedar Rapids

11.1%

Cedar Rapids +

Jonesboro

11.4%

Poor Mental Health

CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month

Cedar Rapids

17.4%

Cedar Rapids +

Jonesboro

20.5%

No Health Insurance

CDC PLACES

Cedar Rapids

7.2%

Cedar Rapids +

Jonesboro

11.6%

Binge Drinking

CDC PLACES

Cedar Rapids

20.4%

Jonesboro

15.1%

Jonesboro +

Current Smokers

CDC PLACES

Cedar Rapids

14.6%

Cedar Rapids +

Jonesboro

15.7%

Metric	Cedar Rapids, IA	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Obesity RateCDC PLACES	36.3%	39.2%	Cedar Rapids +
Diabetes RateCDC PLACES	11.1%	11.4%	Cedar Rapids +
Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month	17.4%	20.5%	Cedar Rapids +
No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES	7.2%	11.6%	Cedar Rapids +
Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES	20.4%	15.1%	Jonesboro +
Current SmokersCDC PLACES	14.6%	15.7%	Cedar Rapids +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Cedar Rapids

50.3°F

Cedar Rapids +

Jonesboro

59.2°F

Annual Precipitation

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Cedar Rapids

37.6 in

Cedar Rapids +

Jonesboro

48.2 in

Metric	Cedar Rapids, IA	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal	50.3°F	59.2°F	Cedar Rapids +
Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal	37.6 in	48.2 in	Cedar Rapids +

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg

EPA AQS (state-level est.)

Cedar Rapids

10.2 µg/m³

Jonesboro

9.5 µg/m³

Jonesboro +

Good Air Days

AQI ≤ 50

Cedar Rapids

55.0%

Jonesboro

55.0%

Tie

Metric	Cedar Rapids, IA	Jonesboro, AR	Better
PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.)	10.2 µg/m³	9.5 µg/m³	Jonesboro +
Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50	55.0%	55.0%	Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time

Census ACS

Cedar Rapids

19.4 min

Jonesboro

N/A

Metric	Cedar Rapids, IA	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS	19.4 min	N/A	-

Which City is Right for You?

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 660 in Jonesboro. Jonesboro has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 9.5 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Cedar Rapids scores better with a lower obesity rate of 36.3%.

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About Cedar Rapids & Jonesboro

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