Fort Madison, IA vs Mason City, IA

Fort Madison is moderately more affordable than Mason City, with a 6.2% lower cost of living index. Fort Madison scores 65 compared to 69 for Mason City, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Mason City can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Fort Madison is $824/month compared to $874/month in Mason City — a 6% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Fort Madison is more affordable at $95,900 median vs $130,000.

Median household income in Fort Madison is $49,359 compared to $62,369 in Mason City (-20.9%). While Mason City 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 16.8% in Mason City.