Affordable Housing Evolution: A Personal Journey Through Cedar Rapids And Beyond

I took a job in Cedar Rapids many moons ago. I was paying, at the time, $1,500, for rent, in a suburb of Washington, DC. I’m no economist, I can barely do radio, but this is 2006 dollars which is not the same as 2024 dollars. I didn’t have time to look for a place to live. When I came for my interview, it was one of the biggest snowstorms of the decade. I watched the snowfall all night. I flew in and out in the two small breaks in the weather.  

The apartment I applied for above the bus terminal was sight unseen. The rent was $425, and the rest of the choices were not recommended and considered less than stellar. $Four hundred what? I’ll take two! It was a nice apartment. No washer-dryer but the price was right! Plus, the people, everywhere, were oddly friendly.  

The times they are a-Changin' 

I’ve been a homeowner for the last 15 years. I wasn’t aware of rent costs and what they are charging for these days. I am now. This is so YOU are aware. The days of $425 rent are over in Cedar Rapids. They were over when I lived here. I got a letter under the door, telling me the rent was going up. Funny, I was in the middle of a lease. The rent didn’t go up for me, but the next person did get a bump. The times were changing but the people were still friendly.  

Looking at rents across the country, they’re all on the rise. When I took this position, that played into our decision. I had opportunities in Tennessee, California, and Oregon. I will say the rent being charged in and around Nashville is crazy.  

Even half an hour outside the city, rent is high.  

 It is a little better in Eugene, Oregon.  

 The area in California was a little like Cedar Rapids price-wise. 

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What you need to know about moving to Cedar Rapids 

The rent here is going up. They are building new apartments, townhomes, and single-family dwellings all over Cedar Rapids.  Some were a bit pricey but not too far from national averages but maybe with more square footage in Cedar Rapids.  

RentCafe.com reports that the average rent in the US for a dwelling of 899 sq feet, is $1,713.  

 What’s good about Cedar Rapids? 

Wallethub, in 2024, took many factors into account, like income-growth rate, and average leisure time spent per day, depression rate, and named Cedar Rapids #45 happiest city in America.  

In 2023 Wallethub was at it again and named Cedar Rapids, the #23 safest city and the #22 best job market in America.  

The City of Cedar Rapids likes to show off all the good things about the quality of life here.  

What kinda scratch are people bringing in Cedar Rapids? 

The average income of an individual in Cedar Rapids, IA, according to the US Census Bureau in 2022 was 37,823. That’s up a bit from 2013 when it was reported to be 28,416.  

 Where you search matters too 

Keep in mind where you look also matters. Websites you might want to check, Apartments.com, Trulia, and Zillow. Check many, some show properties others don’t have or haven’t yet picked up. I’ve even seen rent discounts on one site and not another.