Coralville, IA vs Fort Madison, IA

The cost of living difference between Coralville, IA and Fort Madison, IA is dramatic. Fort Madison is 33.9% cheaper than Coralville, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Coralville has a cost index of 87 while Fort Madison sits at 65, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Coralville is $1,021/month compared to $824/month in Fort Madison — a 24% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Fort Madison is more affordable at $95,900 median vs $286,000.

Median household income in Coralville is $66,508 compared to $49,359 in Fort Madison (+34.7%). While Coralville is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Coralville spend roughly 18.4% of their income on rent, less than the 20% in Fort Madison.