Fort Dodge, IA vs Fort Madison, IA

Fort Dodge, IA and Fort Madison, IA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 1.4% difference in their overall index. Fort Dodge scores 66 while Fort Madison scores 65 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 Fort Dodge is $764/month compared to $824/month in Fort Madison — a 7% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Fort Dodge has cheaper rent, Fort Madison actually has lower median home values ($95,900 vs $128,900).

Median household income in Fort Dodge is $61,769 compared to $49,359 in Fort Madison (+25.1%). While Fort Dodge is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Fort Dodge spend roughly 14.8% of their income on rent, less than the 20% in Fort Madison.