Residential comparison · 13 facts
Fort Dodge, IA vs Mason City, IA
Compare the housing, tax, cost, income, safety, school, and climate facts that are available for both places. The table shows the numbers without declaring one city universally better.
A household earning $85,000 in Fort Dodge needs about $86,500 in Mason City to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from Mason City, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $83,500 in Fort Dodge.
A few differences
- Mason City is higher on median household income ($64,804 vs $60,649).
- Fort Dodge is lower on cost of living index (73 vs 75).
- Fort Dodge is lower on 2-bedroom rent ($806/mo vs $925/mo).
Fort Dodge vs Mason City · facet by facet
| Facet | Fort Dodge, IA | Mason City, IA |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $144,100 | $142,000 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $806/mo | $925/mo |
| Property tax rate | 1.5% | 1.5% |
| State & local income tax | 5.3% | 5.3% |
| Sales tax | 6.9% | 6.9% |
| Cost of living index | 73 | 75 |
| Groceries index | 94 | 94 |
| Utilities | $150/mo | $150/mo |
| Median household income | $60,649 | $64,804 |
| Unemployment rate | 3% | 3% |
| Crime index | 38/100 | 38/100 |
| School rating | 6.5/10 | 6.5/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 200 days | 200 days |
Data: Census ACS 2024 · BLS · Tax Foundation 2024 brackets · HUD/Zillow · NOAA 1991–2020 · FEMA NRI · Values are shown as reported; no universal winner is implied.
Full profiles: Fort Dodge, IA · Mason City, IA
Questions & answers
- Is Fort Dodge cheaper than Mason City?
- Fort Dodge has the lower day-to-day cost index (73 vs 75 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in Mason City equals $85,000 in Fort Dodge?
- A household earning $85,000 in Fort Dodge needs about $86,500 in Mason City to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of Mason City lifestyle costs about $83,500 in Fort Dodge.