Boone, IA vs Forest City, IA

Forest City is moderately more affordable than Boone, with a 6.2% lower cost of living index. Boone scores 69 compared to 65 for Forest City, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Boone can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Boone is $791/month compared to $719/month in Forest City — a 10% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Forest City is more affordable at $136,400 median vs $156,400.

Median household income in Boone is $67,269 compared to $62,917 in Forest City (+6.9%). While Boone is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Boone spend roughly 14.1% of their income on rent, more than the 13.7% in Forest City.