Fort Madison, IA vs Muscatine, IA

Fort Madison is moderately more affordable than Muscatine, with a 12.1% lower cost of living index. Fort Madison scores 65 compared to 74 for Muscatine, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Muscatine 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 $979/month in Muscatine — a 16% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Fort Madison is more affordable at $95,900 median vs $146,900.

Median household income in Fort Madison is $49,359 compared to $59,332 in Muscatine (-16.8%). While Muscatine 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 19.8% in Muscatine.