Forest City, IA vs Guthrie Center, IA

Forest City, IA and Guthrie Center, IA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 4% difference in their overall index. Forest City scores 65 while Guthrie Center scores 68 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 Forest City is $719/month compared to $839/month in Guthrie Center — a 14% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Forest City has cheaper rent, Guthrie Center actually has lower median home values ($117,100 vs $136,400).

Median household income in Forest City is $62,917 compared to $67,679 in Guthrie Center (-7%). While Guthrie Center is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Forest City spend roughly 13.7% of their income on rent, less than the 14.9% in Guthrie Center.