Forest City, IA vs Hartley, IA

Forest City, IA and Hartley, IA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 4.8% difference in their overall index. Forest City scores 65 while Hartley scores 62 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 $698/month in Hartley — a 3% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Hartley is more affordable at $108,400 median vs $136,400.

Median household income in Forest City is $62,917 compared to $51,118 in Hartley (+23.1%). While Forest City 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 16.4% in Hartley.