Cedar Rapids Iowa is a city of approximately 200,000 people that has seen phenomenal growth over the past twenty years with the success of major companies, as well as a technological revolution. Featuring several nationally renowned colleges, and only twenty miles from Iowa City, home of the University of Iowa, Cedar Rapids was in perfect shape to see such a growth. Extremely low crime rates, cheap land, low taxes, some of the best education (elementary, high school, and secondary) in the country and a government friendly to investment has turned Cedar Rapids Iowa into a boom town.

Cedar Rapids made US News and World Report list of top 300 cities, and was especially noted for its extremely low crime rates, and was one of the very few cities where the buying power of the dollar was actually higher than the national average. Thus, the average $44,000 salary had the buying power of a $53,000 salary elsewhere. Not a bad deal at all.

Coe College is one of the top rated private liberal arts colleges in the country, and Kirkwood is one of the best community colleges in the entire Midwest. In addition, the Five Seasons Center and Hotel often has great concerts, shows, and other huge events that attract visitors from miles around. There is an impressive art museum, several movie theatres, and an impressive variety of ethnic groups has also lead to a fantastic choice in types of food one can find in local restaurants. The variety for a city the size of Cedar Rapids Iowa really is quite incredible.

There are plenty of places to shop, as there are two malls and stores everywhere from the common chain stores to small privately owned businesses. There is a Barnes and Noble as well as an excellent used book store just across the street. Cedar Rapids Iowa offers biking trails, hiking trails, and about anything one could want. It may not have the offerings of Chicago or Minneapolis, but it doesn't have the problems, either. People are friendly, streets are safe, and there are few places that can match it.

Cedar Rapids Iowa is what many small cities wish they could be, and it is a tribute to the people who have managed to keep the city such a great place while taking full advantage of booming growth.