Cedar Rapids IA vs North Charleston SC — 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%

North Charleston, SC

South Carolina · Population: 117,460

Median HH Income$62,789
Median Home Price$313,219
Unemployment4.3%
Bachelor's+28.0%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population

Cedar Rapids

136,859

Cedar Rapids +

North Charleston

117,460

Pop. Density / sq mi

Lower = more space

Cedar Rapids

N/A

North Charleston

N/A

Median Age

Cedar Rapids

36.9

North Charleston

34.3

North Charleston +

Foreign Born

Cedar Rapids

7.1%

North Charleston

12.2%

North Charleston +

White

Cedar Rapids

79.7%

Cedar Rapids +

North Charleston

39.1%

Black

Cedar Rapids

8.5%

North Charleston

42.2%

North Charleston +

Asian

Cedar Rapids

2.5%

North Charleston

3.5%

North Charleston +

Hispanic

Cedar Rapids

5.1%

North Charleston

12.8%

North Charleston +

Spanish at Home

Cedar Rapids

N/A

North Charleston

N/A

Metric	Cedar Rapids, IA	North Charleston, SC	Better
Population	136,859	117,460	Cedar Rapids +
Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space	N/A	N/A	-
Median Age	36.9	34.3	North Charleston +
Foreign Born	7.1%	12.2%	North Charleston +
White	79.7%	39.1%	Cedar Rapids +
Black	8.5%	42.2%	North Charleston +
Asian	2.5%	3.5%	North Charleston +
Hispanic	5.1%	12.8%	North Charleston +
Spanish at Home	N/A	N/A	-

Economy

Median HH Income

Cedar Rapids

$67,859

Cedar Rapids +

North Charleston

$62,789

Per Capita Income

Cedar Rapids

$39,824

Cedar Rapids +

North Charleston

$35,740

Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)

BEA MSA-level

Cedar Rapids

$61,226

Cedar Rapids +

North Charleston

$54,550

Unemployment Rate

Cedar Rapids

3.9%

Cedar Rapids +

North Charleston

4.3%

Poverty Rate

Cedar Rapids

11.8%

Cedar Rapids +

North Charleston

15.5%

Bachelor's Degree+

Cedar Rapids

32.9%

Cedar Rapids +

North Charleston

28.0%

Metric	Cedar Rapids, IA	North Charleston, SC	Better
Median HH Income	$67,859	$62,789	Cedar Rapids +
Per Capita Income	$39,824	$35,740	Cedar Rapids +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level	$61,226	$54,550	Cedar Rapids +
Unemployment Rate	3.9%	4.3%	Cedar Rapids +
Poverty Rate	11.8%	15.5%	Cedar Rapids +
Bachelor's Degree+	32.9%	28.0%	Cedar Rapids +

Housing

Median Home Value

Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS

Cedar Rapids

$210,271

Cedar Rapids +

North Charleston

$313,219

Homeownership Rate

Cedar Rapids

68.2%

Cedar Rapids +

North Charleston

48.5%

Metric	Cedar Rapids, IA	North Charleston, SC	Better
Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS	$210,271	$313,219	Cedar Rapids +
Homeownership Rate	68.2%	48.5%	Cedar Rapids +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Cedar Rapids

296

Cedar Rapids +

North Charleston

398

Property Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Cedar Rapids

1452

Cedar Rapids +

North Charleston

1999

Metric	Cedar Rapids, IA	North Charleston, SC	Better
Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	296	398	Cedar Rapids +
Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	1452	1999	Cedar Rapids +

Health

Obesity Rate

CDC PLACES

Cedar Rapids

36.3%

North Charleston

35.2%

North Charleston +

Diabetes Rate

CDC PLACES

Cedar Rapids

11.1%

Cedar Rapids +

North Charleston

13.2%

Poor Mental Health

CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month

Cedar Rapids

17.4%

Cedar Rapids +

North Charleston

17.5%

No Health Insurance

CDC PLACES

Cedar Rapids

7.2%

Cedar Rapids +

North Charleston

15.3%

Binge Drinking

CDC PLACES

Cedar Rapids

20.4%

North Charleston

19.8%

North Charleston +

Current Smokers

CDC PLACES

Cedar Rapids

14.6%

North Charleston

14.3%

North Charleston +

Metric	Cedar Rapids, IA	North Charleston, SC	Better
Obesity RateCDC PLACES	36.3%	35.2%	North Charleston +
Diabetes RateCDC PLACES	11.1%	13.2%	Cedar Rapids +
Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month	17.4%	17.5%	Cedar Rapids +
No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES	7.2%	15.3%	Cedar Rapids +
Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES	20.4%	19.8%	North Charleston +
Current SmokersCDC PLACES	14.6%	14.3%	North Charleston +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Cedar Rapids

50.3°F

North Charleston

N/A

Annual Precipitation

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Cedar Rapids

37.6 in

North Charleston

N/A

Metric	Cedar Rapids, IA	North Charleston, SC	Better
Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal	50.3°F	N/A	-
Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal	37.6 in	N/A	-

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg

EPA AQS (state-level est.)

Cedar Rapids

10.2 µg/m³

North Charleston

8.6 µg/m³

North Charleston +

Good Air Days

AQI ≤ 50

Cedar Rapids

55.0%

North Charleston

75.0%

North Charleston +

Metric	Cedar Rapids, IA	North Charleston, SC	Better
PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.)	10.2 µg/m³	8.6 µg/m³	North Charleston +
Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50	55.0%	75.0%	North Charleston +

Commute

Mean Commute Time

Census ACS

Cedar Rapids

19.4 min

Cedar Rapids +

North Charleston

26.8 min

Metric	Cedar Rapids, IA	North Charleston, SC	Better
Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS	19.4 min	26.8 min	Cedar Rapids +

Which City is Right for You?

Cedar Rapids leads in median household income at $67,859, 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 398 in North Charleston. Cedar Rapids has a lower unemployment rate at 3.9%, and North Charleston has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.6 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, North Charleston scores better with a lower obesity rate of 35.2%.

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About Cedar Rapids & North Charleston

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