Rutherford, NJ vs Waukee, IA
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.
Rutherford
70.7
#1075 nationally
Waukee
77.3
#263 nationally
Rutherford leads in crime level (1.6 vs 3.9). Waukee leads in average commute (19.6 min vs 33.5 min). Waukee leads in cost of living index (106 vs 146).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Rutherford, NJ | Waukee, IA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 70.7 (#1075) | 77.3 (#263) |
| Population | 18,852 | 31,645 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $767,911 | $343,274 |
| Median Household Income | $128,576 | $106,846 |
| Average Commute | 33.5 min | 19.6 min |
| Walk Score | 67 | N/A |
| Crime Level | 1.6 | 3.9 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 146 | 106 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+3.4 | R+4.8 |
Data coverage note: Waukee is missing data for 1 metric that Rutherford has. Scores with less coverage are penalized — see our methodology.
C-
70.7 Score
Rutherford, NJ
Small New Jersey city with local appeal
Median Home
$767,911
Population
18,852
Crime
Low
Walk Score
67
Northeast
View Rutherford, NJ →
C+
77.3 Score
Waukee, IA
Small Iowa city with local appeal
Median Home
$343,274
Population
31,645
Crime
Low
Median Income
$106,846
Midwest
View Waukee, IA →