Fort Madison, IA vs Saylorville, IA

The cost of living difference between Fort Madison, IA and Saylorville, IA is dramatic. Fort Madison is 38.9% cheaper than Saylorville, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Fort Madison has a cost index of 65 while Saylorville sits at 106, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Fort Madison is $824/month compared to $1,642/month in Saylorville — a 50% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Fort Madison is more affordable at $95,900 median vs $287,700.

Median household income in Fort Madison is $49,359 compared to $80,250 in Saylorville (-38.5%). The higher salaries in Saylorville partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Fort Madison spend roughly 20% of their income on rent, less than the 24.6% in Saylorville.