Key Takeaways
- Cedar Rapids is the second-largest city in Iowa, offering retirees small-town living in an urban setting.
- The cost of living in Cedar Rapids is lower than the national average, with median housing, grocery, and utility costs significantly less than those in other states.
- Cedar Rapids is one of Investopedia’s 100 best places to retire in the U.S.
Cedar Rapids is the second-largest city in Iowa, and it’s one of Investopedia’s 100 best places to retire in the U.S. It’s also known as the City of Five Seasons because it’s like nature adds a fifth season for the community to experience “the wonders of changing seasons” in the landscape.
Located in Linn County, this midsize city pairs Midwestern practicality with a rising cultural scene, making it a great place to settle into if you’re retired or on the verge of leaving the workforce. It delivers the comforts and affordability you’ll want as a retiree, without the hassles of a big city.
Cedar Rapids: Small-Town Charm Without the Big-City Headache
Cedar Rapids is part of the larger Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), which comprises three counties: Linn, Benton, and Jones. It’s the largest city in the MSA and the county seat of Linn County. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are 137,904 residents, of whom almost 17% are 65 and older.
Living in Cedar Rapids means you can say goodbye to long commutes and congestion. The main artery is I-380, and traffic is fairly manageable compared with major cities. One of the best things about the city is that gridlock is uncommon. The city is repairing and revitalizing its streets through Paving for Progress, a major voter-approved infrastructure initiative slated to end in 2034…