Single Mom with child relocating to IA... (Cedar Rapids, Iowa City: apartments, rent)

[Glossie99]

Hi
I am looking into relocating to IA. Looking at Cedar Rapids or Iowa City areas. I'm wondering if anyone can tell me where there are good schools are in these areas and where the lowest crime rate is?

Thanks abunch for any detailed info you can give me.

[metro223]

Overall, Iowa City has the better schools and is a lot safer - keep in mind it is a college town though.

[WoodwardGirl]

Originally Posted by metro223

Overall, Iowa City has the better schools and is a lot safer

A LOT safer? I don't think so!!!!!!

Now, whenever we get into these discussions, someone always trots out the crime statistics and it all depends on what kind of crime one is talking about. But, realistically and going off the police reports in the newspapers and the evening news, there is little difference in safety between the two areas.

Schools are good both places, too.

Iowa City is a "younger" town, with more nightlife and more singles. It tends to be more liberal, with better public transportation and diversity. Cedar Rapids is a very family-oriented town. Lots of people enjoy working and living here and only coming in contact with "game day" traffic if they are actually going to the game.

I've always chosen between the two by living where I was working. Commutes are stupid... they eat up big chunks of valuable time. My advice would be to figure out where you are going to work (or go to school or whatever) and then live somewhere nearby. You'll probably want to rent at first, anyway, so that will let you get a feel for things.

Good luck with your move!

[metro223]

Sorry a little bit safer. I only say that because IA City doesn't really seem to have the seedy areas like Cedar Rapids does - nor do they have any bad schools. Just going by what she asked for. Personally I like CR better.

[SharpHawkeye]

I would say that Iowa City is maybe a bit safer than Cedar Rapids. Both have seedy areas, though...although Iowa City's seedy area might be a little less seedy than Cedar Rapids'. Both have schools serving those seedy areas that aren't the best.

As far as Iowa City goes: only avoid Mark Twain Elem. The schools in other parts of the city are much better. I hear good things in particular about Horace Mann, Shimek, Lincoln and Weber elementary schools. The areas served by those schools are also good areas with little crime. The schools farther out in North Liberty are also good and brand new to boot, but have some overcrowding issues.

I like Iowa City better than Cedar Rapids myself, but both cities are very nice and very liveable. Iowa City tends to be more expensive to live in, though, so you may want to take that into account.

[Glossie99]

Thanks y'all. The info is very helpful. It's so hard to move to a new area and not have the low down on all areas. Schools are the most imporatant to me, Middle schools, that is, as well as where to live. I live in an apt that has a keyed entry, the neighborhood is a little rough, but I still feel I can walk around with no problems. Don't know about where to find a job, if there is a temp agency in any of these areas, I will have no problem! I've lived in a college town before and the kids are wild but manageable, it was a university with only 6K students...small compared to Iowa City?

[Glossie99]

oh yeah, what is the weather like in these areas, and I mean the winters. I know this winter was a really wierd one. I come from an area where we can get up to 275 inches of snow. Way up near Lake Superior.

[metro223]

Originally Posted by Glossie99

I've lived in a college town before and the kids are wild but manageable, it was a university with only 6K students...small compared to Iowa City?

That's very small compared to UI - I believe UI has over 30,000 students.

As for winters, Iowa winters will be mild compared to a winter up in the Great Lakes region where you once lived. And you are right - this winter has been abnormally long and bad. Not typical... but it happens every once in awhile.

[neanerbean]

live in Iowa City and I have lived in CR also. I would pick IC over CR any day. The community is much better at providing many things to do. IC School are better then CR. Southeast is Great and City isn't as snobby as West high. Almost all areas in IC are good. with just a few apartment complexes and a few clumps of streets, and outside student crime, most of the crimes neighbor hood base. If you are looking of elem schools Twain, Wood and Lucas are at the bottom. Penn, Lincoln, Weber, Mann, Schmiek are at the top. Man is one of the smallest but as the most diversity as it includes the University Apartments in the enrollment. I'm partial to Mann as I'm a Mann mom. Where ever you go, good luck

[neanerbean]

Oh, I have lived in IC and Cr's seedy areas and IC is much better than CR's