Burlington, IA vs Fort Madison, IA

Fort Madison is moderately more affordable than Burlington, with a 7.5% lower cost of living index. Burlington scores 70 compared to 65 for Fort Madison, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Burlington can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Burlington is $931/month compared to $824/month in Fort Madison — a 13% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Fort Madison is more affordable at $95,900 median vs $115,800.

Median household income in Burlington is $55,274 compared to $49,359 in Fort Madison (+12%). While Burlington is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Burlington spend roughly 20.2% of their income on rent, more than the 20% in Fort Madison.