Moving from Yonkers, NY to Cedar Rapids, IA

It is 1032 mi between Yonkers and Cedar Rapids β€” roughly 19h 13m of driving, plus rest stops and overnight, through 7 state(s). A long-haul move crosses climate zones and usually state-income-tax lines. This page assembles the federal and Zillow data into a side-by-side comparison so the differences are easy to scan.

1032 mi Β· 19h 13m by car Β· NY β†’ NJ β†’ PA β†’ OH β†’ IN β†’ IL β†’ IA

COL -21.0% Home values -70.0% Ξ” -5.1Β°F annual

Distance & route

Driving
1032 mi
Drive time
19h 13m
States
7
Fuel (25 mpg)
41 gal
Route throughNY β†’ NJ β†’ PA β†’ OH β†’ IN β†’ IL β†’ IA
Primary highwaysI 80, I 90, I 280
Major cities en routeStamford, New York, Jersey City, Paterson, Newark

Route via OSRM driving profile. Actual time varies with traffic and season.

Cost of living

YonkersCedar RapidsU.S. avg
All items (RPP)112.56388.963100.0
Rents127.01883.981100.0
Goods110.26193.73100.0
Services148.61671.447100.0

Cedar Rapids sits 21.0% cheaper than Yonkers on the BEA RPP, one of the larger gaps you will see between U.S. metros.

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (MSA-level Β· MSA-level); 2024.

Housing prices

Yonkers β€” typical home
$680,218
Cedar Rapids β€” typical home
$204,112
Yonkers β€” typical rent
$2,747/mo
Cedar Rapids β€” typical rent
$1,258/mo

Zillow ZHVI drops from $680,218 in Yonkers to $204,112 in Cedar Rapids, a 21.0% decrease on the typical home value.

YoY change: Yonkers +5.9%, Cedar Rapids +2.8%. Snapshot: 2026-03. Data provided by Zillow.

Climate

1991–2020 normalsYonkersCedar Rapids
Annual avg temperature53Β°F48Β°F
January avg low23Β°F11Β°F
July avg high86Β°F83Β°F
Annual snowfall32.7"β€”
Annual precipitation51.2"35.9"

Annual temperature drops 5.1Β°F moving to Cedar Rapids per NOAA normals.

Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (stations: DOBBS FERRY-ARDSLEY, NY US, CEDAR RAPIDS MUNI AP, IA US).

Demographics

ACS 5-year 2023YonkersCedar Rapids
Population209,529136,859
Median household income$81,816$67,859
Median age3936.9
Bachelor's degree or higher19.6%22.2%
Avg household size2.62.32

Households in Cedar Rapids earn about 21.0% less at the median β€” ACS 5-year 2023.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2023.

Jobs & wages

Yonkers MSA β€” median wage
$59,390
Cedar Rapids MSA β€” median wage
$47,670
Yonkers MSA β€” employment
9,495,240
Cedar Rapids MSA β€” employment
140,020

Top occupations in Cedar Rapids MSA

OccupationEmploymentMedian wage
Office and Administrative Support Occupations 16,490 $43,430
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations 14,280 $46,000
Production Occupations 13,570 $46,060
Sales and Related Occupations 11,520 $34,850
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations 11,280 $29,630

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.

Moving between New York and Iowa

New York income tax
10.9% top marginal
Iowa income tax
3.8% top marginal

State income-tax top marginal rates are from the Tax Foundation, updated annually. Check Iowa's DMV for the current deadline to transfer driver license and vehicle registration after establishing residency. Consult a tax professional for your specific filing situation β€” state tax treatment depends on residency, sourcing, and reciprocity agreements.

Best time to move

Moving companies typically charge 20–30% more between Memorial Day and Labor Day (peak season). October through April offers the lowest rates and better mover availability.

To avoid mid-semester school transfers, most U.S. families schedule moves between mid-June and mid-August. Public school calendars typically run late August or early September through late May or early June.

Winter driving along this route

  • Lake-effect off Lake Ontario can shut down I-81 and I-90 for hours in winter β€” check 511NY.
  • The Pennsylvania Turnpike between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg can see chain requirements in heavy winter storms.

State DOT 511 phone or web services provide real-time road conditions year-round.

Packing & arrival checklist

  • Tornado season runs April through June β€” identify a safe room or interior space early.
  • Arrange utility connection (power, internet, gas, water) two weeks ahead of move-in.
  • Update mailing address with USPS change-of-address within the first week post-move.
  • Register to vote in Iowa after establishing residency.

Frequently asked

How does the job market in Cedar Rapids compare to Yonkers?

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics show median wages of $47,670 in the Cedar Rapids MSA vs $59,390 in the Yonkers MSA, on total employment of 140,020 and 9,495,240 respectively. Top occupations on the destination side appear in the Jobs & wages section above.

How does household income compare in Yonkers vs Cedar Rapids?

Median household income on the Census ACS 5-year (2023) is $67,859 in Cedar Rapids vs $81,816 in Yonkers β€” a 17.1% lower figure. Compare this against the cost-of-living gap above when budgeting.

Is Cedar Rapids more expensive than Yonkers?

Based on BEA Regional Price Parities (2024), overall price level in Cedar Rapids is 21.0% lower than Yonkers (88.963 vs 112.563, U.S. average = 100). Rent and services typically carry most of this gap.

When is the best time to move from Yonkers to Cedar Rapids?

Moving companies usually charge 20–30% less between October and April (off-peak). Memorial Day through Labor Day is peak pricing. For a 1032 mi drive, weather on the route matters too β€” see the timing section above for state-specific winter warnings.

How far is Cedar Rapids, IA from Yonkers, NY?

The driving distance is 1032 mi and the route typically takes 19h 13m via I 80 and I 90. The trip crosses 7 state(s). Actual time varies with traffic and season.

How much do homes cost in Cedar Rapids compared to Yonkers?

Zillow ZHVI (2026-03) puts the typical home value at $204,112 in Cedar Rapids vs $680,218 in Yonkers β€” a 70.0% lower figure. Data provided by Zillow Research.

Plan the move

Estimate costs with our moving cost calculator, or see where else to move from Yonkers.

City profiles: Yonkers, NY Β· Cedar Rapids, IA.

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