Fort Madison, IA vs Marshalltown, IA

Fort Madison, IA and Marshalltown, IA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 4.4% difference in their overall index. Fort Madison scores 65 while Marshalltown scores 68 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 $864/month in Marshalltown — a 5% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Fort Madison is more affordable at $95,900 median vs $117,100.

Median household income in Fort Madison is $49,359 compared to $68,854 in Marshalltown (-28.3%). While Marshalltown 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 15.1% in Marshalltown.