Albia, IA vs Fort Madison, IA

Albia, IA and Fort Madison, IA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 3.6% difference in their overall index. Albia scores 67 while Fort Madison scores 65 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Albia is $803/month compared to $824/month in Fort Madison — a 3% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Albia has cheaper rent, Fort Madison actually has lower median home values ($95,900 vs $132,500).

Median household income in Albia is $67,791 compared to $49,359 in Fort Madison (+37.3%). While Albia is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Albia spend roughly 14.2% of their income on rent, less than the 20% in Fort Madison.