Forest City, IA vs Nashua, IA

Forest City, IA and Nashua, IA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 3.1% difference in their overall index. Forest City scores 65 while Nashua scores 63 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 $740/month in Nashua — a 3% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Forest City has cheaper rent, Nashua actually has lower median home values ($117,300 vs $136,400).

Median household income in Forest City is $62,917 compared to $63,750 in Nashua (-1.3%). Nashua offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Forest City spend roughly 13.7% of their income on rent, less than the 13.9% in Nashua.