Cedar Rapids Named Top 100 Best Place to Live

City ranks #33 in national Livability.com list for affordability, opportunity, and quality of life.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 4:01am

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An out-of-focus, impressionistic photograph in soft, warm tones depicting a lively downtown street scene with people, storefronts, and vehicles, conveying the energy and community feel of Cedar Rapids.Cedar Rapids' ranking as a top livable city reflects its affordable housing, thriving economy, and vibrant community spirit.Cedar Rapids Today

The City of Cedar Rapids, Iowa has been named the 33rd best place to live in the United States, according to the 2026 Top 100 Best Places to Live list released by Livability.com. The ranking highlights the city's affordability, economic opportunities, and high quality of life.

Why it matters

This national recognition showcases Cedar Rapids' appeal as an affordable Midwest city with a strong economy, vibrant community, and desirable quality of life factors that are attracting new residents and businesses. The ranking validates the city's ongoing efforts to improve livability and make it an attractive destination to live, work, and raise a family.

The details

Livability.com, a national website that evaluates small to mid-sized cities, cited Cedar Rapids' affordability, job opportunities, and overall quality of life as key factors in its high ranking on the 2026 list of the Top 100 Best Places to Live in the U.S.

  • The 2026 Top 100 Best Places to Live list was released by Livability.com on April 7, 2026.

The players

City of Cedar Rapids

The local government of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Livability.com

A national website that evaluates and ranks small to mid-sized cities across the United States based on livability factors.

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The takeaway

This ranking showcases Cedar Rapids' appeal as an affordable, economically vibrant Midwest city with a high quality of life, validating the city's efforts to improve livability and attract new residents and businesses.