Interested in moving to Cedar Rapids (Davenport, Iowa City: income, jobs, housing)

[gayleinAZ]

I lived in CR years ago and I'm considering moving back as an adult. I'd like any input from local folks around that area. I'm looking for a safe, clean, quiet city in which to start making retirement plans. Still gotta work so I'll need a job, but I'd like to start getting something in the works while the sun shines and I can still make HAY! Thank you for any input in advance.

[teamrn]

Gayle

We may be moving to CR; what can you tell me of the the area? I know you've not lived there in some time, but ANY INFO is appreciated

team

[kwaggyCF]

my brother lives in cedar rapids and i live in waterloo cedar falls, originally from seattle area, but i've been there a lot and i dont like cedar rapids at all. first of all they have a lot of gang problems right now. and if your looking for a clean area i dont think this is one. the downtown looks like an industrial park and its not pretty. if you're looking for clean cities in iowa theres only about three, quad cities, des moines, or iowa city.

[kc flynn]

I stumbled upon this site doing a little reseach on another Iowa town a business associate was from... Cedar Rapids caught my eye and I read a reply by one of the other subscribers. I wanted to share my opinion of CR.

I graduated from the UofI in 1980 and promptly left the state. I have lived in IL, AR, PA, and Cedar Rapids. I moved back in 1995 with 3 small children. We have lived in Marion for all 11+ years and we love it. The town has many things to do. We were at the Five Season's 8K & 5K run yesterday morning, at the IMAX to watch Superman in the PM, and watched fireworks until 10:00. The Freedom Festival was in full swing and we took in a lot of music. I like the blues, folk, bluegrass, jazz, ... The Iowa City Jazz Festival was last weekend. Although I didn't go down this year I went last and it's wonderful - 45 minutes from my doorstep (in Marion - further away that CR) to downtown IC. Watched a few sets and drove back home. We also go to the CSPS hall on 3rd Street for entertainment. Small stage - great entertainment. Just saw Richie Havens - talked with him for a while. I love that place. It's actually an art gallary with entertainment.

Don't forget about sports. Hawkeye football & basketball ae huge. Also, we have a Junior Hockey Team. My kids play hockey and we attend all home games i.e. 25+ per year. CR Kernals baseball - going to a game tonight with business people and tomarrow night with my youngest, a french student we are housing for the summer, and neighbor kids... Golf about 2 times per week at the public coarses - $17 green fees - less at twilight. I could go on for hours.

As you can tell we like it. It is actually a small town - in atmosphere. It is what you make of it. If you get involved and are a people person you will not have any problem adjusting to the area - the people will let you in...

Schools are great - although it sounds like you are beyond school age children. We send ours to Xavier and Linn Mar. Both schools are wonderful.

As far a gangs, downtown, and other negatives - if you are looking you can find negatives about anything. It is not perfect. Do we have gang problems? - I lived in Chicago - we do not have gang problems. There is some gang influance from Chicago. Just don't go down to 15th & 4th ave to buy crack. We have some dumb s..ts just like everywhere else... Downtown is clean. I take the bike trail through a couple of times a month. I go to the concerts at Green Square Park. It's all in the eye of the beholder...

Hope this helps...

Take care and good luck!
- kcf

[gayleinAZ]

WOW - ok so Cedar Rapids in kinda OUT! I wasn't THAT crazy about it as a kid, but anything is better than AZ. I did like the Quaker Oat smell all the time, that was nice.
If you want to talk gangs just go past any fence or block wall in Phx and you can see how many gangs try to outdo other gangs in one area. Marion sounds nice. Has anyone been to Dubuque - or is that just a smaller version of Cedar Rapids?

[MisspookieH]

I lived in CR for 2 years nad Marion for 4. Yes it's clean and safe and NO discernable gang problem. The only thing is, if one didn't grow up there, it is tough to make close friends and crack the inner circles. It's like this: people will change your flat tire but won't invite you to dinner. Also, people drive UNDER the speed limit. Very unusual!

[Chicago60614]

Haha, Cedar Rapids, gangs? The metro area didn't have a single murder in 2004, and 1 last year. Maybe there are a few gang members, but lets take things into persepective here...

I grew up in Coralville (just north of Iowa City) and loved it. I would recommend living north of I-80 in Coralville or North Liberty. The area is growing, wooded, very nice - yet within 20 minutes of either Cedar Rapids or downtown Iowa City.

I've always liked Cedar Rapids myself. The area has around 200,000 people, with Iowa City directly south of it containing 120,000 in Johnson County. Together they provide quite a few ammenities, and with the University in Iowa City you get more culture and of course sports than a normal city of that size.

Winters are cold (of course) but spring, summer and fall are beautiful.

[jeffs]

Cedar rapids isnt too bad. I dont know of too many gang problems there. Now davenport (Quad cities) is full of gang bangers. Davenport is in the the top 20 in tha nation every year for violent crime rate. One year we were 2nd in the nation behind detroit. Downtown is full of hookers and homeless people, crack dealers, and the way they cut police officer jobs here its not going to get better. D port is the low income housing capital of Iowa.