Fort Atkinson, IA vs Janesville, IA

Janesville is moderately more affordable than Fort Atkinson, with a 14.3% lower cost of living index. Fort Atkinson scores 77 compared to 67 for Janesville, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Fort Atkinson can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Fort Atkinson is $1,125/month compared to $625/month in Janesville — a 80% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Janesville has cheaper rent, Fort Atkinson actually has lower median home values ($135,000 vs $214,700).

Median household income in Fort Atkinson is $72,083 compared to $84,231 in Janesville (-14.4%). Janesville offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Fort Atkinson spend roughly 18.7% of their income on rent, more than the 8.9% in Janesville.