Cedar Rapids Metro Area, IA Local Data & Statistics

State: IA
Total population: 276,624 Household income: $78,080 Rent: $928

Overview

Total population
276,624
Rent
$928
Year built
1976
Household income
$78,080
Per capita income
$43,062
Poverty rate
9.4%
Unemployment rate
3.4%
Household size
2.4 persons
Rent over 30% of income
41.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State
IA
Total population
276,624
Adults over 25
190,699
Total households
114,000
Household size
2.4 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Income & Poverty

Household income
$78,080
Per capita income
$43,062
Poverty rate
9.4%
Unemployment rate
3.4%
Rent over 30% of income
41.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Housing

Rent
$928
Year built
1976
Households that rent
25%
Households that own
75%
Rooms per home (all homes)
6.0

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Race

White
85.3%
Black
5.2%
Asian
2.1%
Two or more races
6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino
3.8%
Not Hispanic or Latino
96.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Commute

Commute rate
85.8%
Commute time to work
20 mins
Work from home
14.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Education

Less than high school
24.9%
High school graduate or GED
28.2%
Some college or associate degree
14.1%
Bachelor’s degree or higher
32.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

 

Comparison of Cedar Rapids Metro Area, IA with: Iowa United States

Cedar Rapids Metro Area

Total population276,624
Rent$928
Year built1976
Household income$78,080
Per capita income$43,062
Poverty rate9.4%
Unemployment rate3.4%

Iowa State

Total population3,210,507
Rent$972
Year built1972
Household income$75,059
Per capita income$40,877
Poverty rate11.1%
Unemployment rate3%

United States

Total population334,922,499
Rent$1,413
Year built1980
Household income$80,734
Per capita income$44,673
Poverty rate12.5%
Unemployment rate4%
Metric Metro AreaCedar Rapids Metro AreaStateIowaCountryUnited States
Total population276,6243,210,507334,922,499
Rent$928$972$1,413
Year built197619721980
Household income$78,080$75,059$80,734
Per capita income$43,062$40,877$44,673
Poverty rate9.4%11.1%12.5%
Unemployment rate3.4%3%4%

View the complete comparison of Cedar Rapids Metro Area, Iowa and United States →

 

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Summary for Cedar Rapids Metro Area, IA

Cedar Rapids metro area is located in IA.

Rent & Income

The typical monthly rent in this metro area is $928, while the typical household income is $78,080. Rent in this metro area is similar to Iowa and lower than the U.S., and household income is similar to both Iowa and the U.S.

Housing & Affordability

This metro area is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 25% of households. About 41.2% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating a high cost burden. The poverty rate is about 9.4%, which is lower than both Iowa and the national rate.

Education & Employment

The local unemployment rate is about 3.4%, which is higher than the Iowa rate and lower than the national rate.

 

Cedar Rapids Metro Area, IA — Rent vs Household Income

 

 

Cedar Rapids Metro Area, IA — Poverty vs Unemployment

 

💰 Rent in Cedar Rapids Metro Area, IA (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $928 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Cedar Rapids Metro Area, IA

Annual Household Income: $78,080

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Cedar Rapids Metro Area, IA

Estimated Rate: 9.4%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Cedar Rapids Metro Area, IA

In Cedar Rapids Metro Area, IA, households that rent: 28,449 (25%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?
Household Type Count Share
Renter-Occupied 28,449 25%
Owner-Occupied 85,551 75%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Cedar Rapids Metro Area, IA

In Cedar Rapids Metro Area, IA, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 11,719 (41.2%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?
Household Group Households Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%) 11,719 41.2%
Other renter households 16,730 58.8%
Total renter households 28,449 100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Cedar Rapids Metro Area, IA

Less than High School: 47,503 people (24.9%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 53,712 people (28.2%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 26,811 people (14.1%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 62,673 people (32.9%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 190,699

📊 Unemployment Rate in Cedar Rapids Metro Area, IA

Estimated Rate: 3.4%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

 

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.