Carter Lake, IA vs Fort Madison, IA

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Fort Madison is 22.8% cheaper than Carter Lake. With a cost index of 65 vs 79, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Fort Madison to Carter Lake should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Carter Lake is $1,115/month compared to $824/month in Fort Madison — a 35% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Fort Madison is more affordable at $95,900 median vs $161,200.

Median household income in Carter Lake is $75,037 compared to $49,359 in Fort Madison (+52%). While Carter Lake is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Carter Lake spend roughly 17.8% of their income on rent, less than the 20% in Fort Madison.