Cedar Falls, IA vs Evanston, IL
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Cedar Falls
79.7
#107 nationally
Evanston
74.7
#562 nationally
Evanston leads in walk score (76 vs 38). Cedar Falls leads in average commute (15.3 min vs 29 min). Evanston leads in median household income ($93,188 vs $71,011).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Cedar Falls, IA | Evanston, IL |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 79.7 (#107) | 74.7 (#562) |
| Population | 40,737 | 75,070 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $271,320 | $494,604 |
| Median Household Income | $71,011 | $93,188 |
| Average Commute | 15.3 min | 29 min |
| Walk Score | 38 | 76 |
| Crime Level | 4.3 | 3.9 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 100 | 131 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+1.2 | D+42.0 |
C+
79.7 Score
Cedar Falls, IA
Small Iowa city with local appeal
Median Home
$271,320
Population
40,737
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
38
Midwest
View Cedar Falls, IA →
C
74.7 Score
Evanston, IL
Illinois community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$494,604
Population
75,070
Crime
Low
Walk Score
76
Midwest
View Evanston, IL →
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