Fort Madison, IA vs Jefferson, IA

Fort Madison, IA and Jefferson, IA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 1.2% difference in their overall index. Fort Madison scores 65 while Jefferson 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 Madison is $824/month compared to $745/month in Jefferson — a 11% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Jefferson has cheaper rent, Fort Madison actually has lower median home values ($95,900 vs $126,900).

Median household income in Fort Madison is $49,359 compared to $54,286 in Jefferson (-9.1%). While Jefferson 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 Madison spend roughly 20% of their income on rent, more than the 16.5% in Jefferson.