I'm retired and Crime rate is something to consider — Cedar Rapids sits at 257.5 per 100K. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. Am I wrong here? Appreciate any input.
18 upvotes
6 Replies
Ruth J.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a HR manager, 37, moved here 15 years ago from Portland. I've lived in Old Town and South, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Active local events and festivals
2. Good airport with direct flights
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally tough - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Chain restaurants dominate
2. Homeless population growing downtown
3. The job market situation is stable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Old Town: Great for singles. pretty good vibes, walkable.
- South: More affordable, family-friendly.
**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.
**Cost comparison:**
Coming from Portland, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $70K-$110K here.
**Final verdict:**
Would recommend to anyone considering it.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
29 upvotes
Lillian Adams
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 1 years ago from LA and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in North. It's better than expected for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in hospitality. If you're in construction you might struggle.
People: Generally average. It took about 13 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: hit or miss. Tons of options if you like Asian.
Definitely worth checking out..
24 upvotes
Santiago Parker
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a chef, 27, moved here 13 years ago from Pittsburgh. I've lived in Downtown and Greenfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Good airport with direct flights
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally pretty good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Nightlife is limited
2. Property taxes are high
3. The pet-friendliness situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Downtown: Great for remote workers. solid vibes, walkable.
- Greenfield: More affordable, family-friendly.
**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.
**Cost comparison:**
Coming from Pittsburgh, everything felt improving. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $80K-$100K here.
**Final verdict:**
Would recommend to anyone considering it.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
15 upvotes
Robert Allen
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want pet-friendliness, then yeah this place is great. But if cultural scene matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
8 upvotes
Isaac Mendoza
Moved here from Houston about 5 years ago. I'm still on the fence after all this time. Still getting used to healthcare but No regrets on my end..
1 upvotes
Mason Watson
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 12 years ago from San Diego and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Oak Park. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in finance. If you're in hospitality you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 17 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: surprisingly good. Tons of options if you like BBQ.
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