12 Reasons To Drop Everything And Move To This One Iowa City
By Michaela Kendall|Published April 20, 2016
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Michaela Kendall
Author
Michaela is a born and raised Iowan. She writes for a newspaper by day, and writes content for websites by night. In her spare time, she enjoys reading a good book, or just binge watching Netflix.
Recently, a website called Livability put together a list of 100 of the best, most affordable cities in the United States. Number 8 on that list was Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The list took several different variables into account, including: median household income, consumer spending, income equality, entertainment options and economic conditions.
As the largest corn processing city in the country, many see Cedar Rapids as a very industrial, factory-oriented place – but the city has managed to create a unique culture all its own, as well as a bustling downtown area, beautiful parks and more.
Cedar Rapids is one of the best, most affordable cities in the country, but if you still need convincing, here are 12 reasons to drop everything and move there today:
1. Cedar Rapids has a low cost of living and cheap housing.
An analysis of Cedar Rapids showed that most residents spend around 24 percent of their income on housing, the cost of which is quite a bit below average, and they pay about 3 percent less for utilities.
2. Cedar Rapids is known for its excellent educational system.
The city of Cedar Rapids has partnered with private investors to spend more than $1 billion on revitalization of the downtown area. From historic buildings that have been given a breath of new life to brand new, innovative restaurants, the downtown area has a little bit of everything to offer.
The Farmers Market in downtown Cedar Rapids has become one of the largest open-air markets in the Midwest, with over 200 Iowa vendors and an average of 14,000 patrons visiting each market. You wont have any trouble finding fresh food here.
There are several different breweries in town, from Lion Bridge Brewing (shown above) to Third Base Brewing to Turner Alley Brewing and more, you'll never go thirsty around here.
From upscale spots like The Class Act (shown above) to one-of-a-kind joints like The Lost Cuban, the wide range of flavors will leave your palate satisfied at all times.
8. Cedar Rapids has some of the best museums in the state.
The Czech Village, Little Bohemia, is a historic and cultural district in the heart of town that offers visitors a unique taste of Czech culture at the various shops, restaurants and museum.
Ushers Ferry features 20 historic buildings that depict life in a small Iowa town between the years of 1890 and 1910. Visitors can take a guided tour through the village, and see what life was like in a different time.
11. But there are still plenty of opportunities to connect with nature.
Indian Creek Nature Center in Cedar Rapids offers area residents access to trails, as well as woodland, prairie and wetland areas, where they can really connect with nature.
12. Not to mention, some of the most beautiful parks around.
