Cedar Rapids Ranks #14 on Indeed’s Inaugural Best City for Work and #25 in Top Metro Areas for Healthcare Access
September 2, 2026 | Economic Development & Workforce
The Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance announces Cedar Rapids has been named #14 on Indeed’s inaugural Best Cities for Work and #25 in the Top Metro Areas for Access to Healthcare in national rankings.
Indeed’s Best Cities for Work list evaluates metropolitan areas across the United States using a comprehensive framework designed to capture where people can thrive both professionally and personally. The index measures six core categories: job opportunity, compensation, job quality and security, career mobility and dynamism, work-life and flexibility and economic opportunity. Cedar Rapids earned its spot on the list due to outstanding performances in key categories, including:
• Housing Affordability (#1): – workers achieve greater financial flexibility making it is easier for employers to attract talent seeking a higher quality of life.
• Easy Commuting (#3): – workers spend less time traveling which contributes to better work-life balance while creating a productive work environment.
• Job Opportunity (#7): – a diverse employer base creates pathways for quality jobs and long-term careers.
“Cedar Rapids is an exceptional place to build a career and a life. Our city serves as an economic anchor for a region defined by our combined statistical area, connecting employers, workers, businesses and communities across a much larger economy,” said Juliet Abdel, President & CEO, Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance. “This recognition speaks not only to the strength of Cedar Rapids, but to the broader economic opportunity found throughout our region.”
“The launch of Indeed’s Best Cities for Work list shows how our understanding of a strong labor market is changing,” said Laura Ullrich, Indeed Economic Research Director. “Job availability is still essential, but workers are also thinking more about pay, opportunities for career growth, and work-life balance when deciding where and how they want to work. By looking at these factors across more than 200 U.S. metro areas, the list offers a clearer picture of the economic conditions shaping communities and what makes a city truly competitive for talent.”
The #25 ranking for Healthcare Access in Cedar Rapids reflects a single metric of primary care physicians per 100,000 residents that sits within the index’s Job Quality & Security pillar. Indeed said this pillar carries a 15% weight in the overall index and contains seven metrics. Healthcare access is not a standalone pillar.
Per Indeed, the ranking suggests the metro areas have better healthcare access, shorter appointment wait times, more choice in selecting a physician and stronger healthcare infrastructure. The company said the top-ranked areas are home to nationally recognized hospitals and academic medical centers.
The index scores 40 metrics across six pillars for 228 U.S. metro areas with more than 200,000 residents. Physician supply figures come from County Health Rankings. Cedar Rapids is listed at #25. The #1 spot belongs to Rochester, MN with surrounding cities/states coming in at: Madison, WI (#8), Sioux Falls, SD (#10), Twin Cities (#16) and Omaha, NE (#19).
The above two recognitions reinforce Cedar Rapids’ standing as a premier destination for top-tier talent, innovative employers, expanding businesses seeking a supportive economic environment, and an exceptional quality of life, including access to healthcare.
To view the full rankings from Indeed’s Best Cities for Work list, visit https://www.indeed.com/bestcities
To view full rankings for Best Metro Areas for Healthcare Access, visit https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/rankings-and-ratings/25-best-metro-areas-for-healthcare-access-per-indeed/