Fort Madison, IA vs Rock Valley, IA

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Fort Madison is 21.9% cheaper than Rock Valley. With a cost index of 65 vs 83, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Fort Madison to Rock Valley should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Fort Madison is $824/month compared to $1,070/month in Rock Valley — a 23% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Fort Madison is more affordable at $95,900 median vs $225,800.

Median household income in Fort Madison is $49,359 compared to $67,012 in Rock Valley (-26.3%). While Rock Valley 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 19.2% in Rock Valley.