Poverty and living standards in Cedar Rapids, Iowa: official figures
10.8% of residents of Cedar Rapids (14,496 people) had incomes below the federal poverty line in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey, 341st lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 12.5%; Iowa: 11.1%).
How many children live in poverty in Cedar Rapids?
12.0% of children under 18 in Cedar Rapids lived below the poverty line in 2020-2024 (3,348 children), 296th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 16.1%; Iowa: 12.9%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the poverty rate for older people in Cedar Rapids?
By age, the poverty rate in Cedar Rapids was 11.0% for children under 6 and 8.3% for residents aged 60 and over in 2020-2024 (US: 17.2% and 11.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Cedar Rapids live in deep poverty?
6,673 people in Cedar Rapids, 5.0% of residents, had incomes below half the poverty line in 2020-2024, 329th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many renters in Cedar Rapids are cost-burdened?
45.2% of renting households in Cedar Rapids spent 30% or more of their income on rent and utilities in 2020-2024 (8,101 households), 116th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 51.1%; Iowa: 43.9%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in Cedar Rapids spend half their income on rent?
19.4% of renting households in Cedar Rapids spent half or more of their income on rent and utilities, 70th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 25.9%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Cedar Rapids are food insecure?
An estimated 14.7% of adults in Cedar Rapids experienced food insecurity in the past year, joint 202nd lowest of 592 US cities of 50,000 or more with an estimate, and 11.4% housing insecurity (CDC PLACES model-based estimate for 2023, age-adjusted).
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · saved copyHow Cedar Rapids compares with other cities in the United States
Residents below the poverty line (2020-2024)
Cedar Rapids ranks 483 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents below the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 480 | Avondale | 10.9% |
| 481 | Irvine | 10.8% |
| 482 | Burnsville | 10.8% |
| 483 | Cedar Rapids | 10.8% |
| 484 | Kent | 10.8% |
| 485 | Santa Ana | 10.8% |
| 486 | Casper | 10.8% |
Children under 18 below the poverty line (2020-2024)
Cedar Rapids ranks 528 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Children under 18 below the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 525 | West Allis | 12.0% |
| 526 | Sioux Falls | 12.0% |
| 527 | San Buenaventura (Ventura) | 12.0% |
| 528 | Cedar Rapids | 12.0% |
| 529 | Wellington | 11.9% |
| 530 | Janesville | 11.7% |
| 531 | North Richland Hills | 11.7% |
Residents with incomes below half the poverty line (2020-2024)
Cedar Rapids ranks 495 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents with incomes below half the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 492 | West Covina | 5.0% |
| 493 | Grand Prairie | 5.0% |
| 494 | Midland | 5.0% |
| 495 | Cedar Rapids | 5.0% |
| 496 | Jurupa Valley | 5.0% |
| 497 | Margate | 5.0% |
| 498 | Quincy | 5.0% |
Renting households spending 30% or more of income on rent (2020-2024)
Cedar Rapids ranks 708 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Renting households spending 30% or more of income on rent |
|---|---|---|
| 705 | Goose Creek | 45.3% |
| 706 | Council Bluffs | 45.3% |
| 707 | Grand Forks | 45.2% |
| 708 | Cedar Rapids | 45.2% |
| 709 | Lebanon | 45.2% |
| 710 | Casper | 45.2% |
| 711 | Frisco | 45.1% |
Adults experiencing food insecurity (age-adjusted model estimate) (2023)
Cedar Rapids ranks 386 of 592, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults experiencing food insecurity (age-adjusted model estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| 383 | Citrus Heights | 14.8% |
| 384 | Skokie | 14.8% |
| 385 | Great Falls | 14.8% |
| 386 | Cedar Rapids | 14.7% |
| 387 | Clovis | 14.7% |
| 388 | Goodyear | 14.7% |
| 389 | Nampa | 14.7% |
More on Cedar Rapids: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · all cities in the United States
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: PLACES: Place Data (GIS Friendly Format), 2025 release: model-based age-adjusted prevalence among adults, for every place (data.cdc.gov API, columns used), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b2174bcc660f…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B17020: Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months by Age (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 e79a292f34605560506b7f4b5c8ea242c9d6e203c8e95ba675565ddb7758571e), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 41bab025d213…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table C17002: Ratio of Income to Poverty Level in the Past 12 Months (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 dc3dc675113683ec3ff2a0e29a840f43e03268151d7f14b922658d7306da5187), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 31aa364bfddf…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25070: Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income in the Past 12 Months (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 862ccc17d913305d11e6f802ce4518d76b30585ea0b05b251cd8cf21f8661386), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4f8d499d9e95…)
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