Forest City, IA vs Lenox, IA

Forest City, IA and Lenox, IA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 2% difference in their overall index. Forest City scores 65 while Lenox scores 64 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 $759/month in Lenox — a 5% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Forest City has cheaper rent, Lenox actually has lower median home values ($106,000 vs $136,400).

Median household income in Forest City is $62,917 compared to $59,750 in Lenox (+5.3%). 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 15.2% in Lenox.