Very AffordableHigh CrimeFort Dodge Comm School District
Fort Dodge Iowa · Bill Whittaker (talk) / CC BY-SA 3.0819 Third Avenue South, Fort Dodge, Iowa, in the Oak Hill Historic District · Ann Sullivan-Larson / CC BY-SA 3.0First National Bank Building · Ann Sullivan-Larson / CC BY-SA 3.0Fort Dodge, established in 1850 - History of Iowa · Published in above-mentioned work, which was by Benjamin F. Gue / Public domain
Fort Dodge is a small city of 24,850 in Iowa, with a median household income of $59,452
and a 3.2% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is
11% below the national average.
Strengths:
Fort Dodge stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index. Whether Fort Dodge is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Fort Dodge city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 89.0
Fort Dodge's overall cost of living index is 89.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Fort Dodge costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.
Metric
Fort Dodge, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$123,600
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$749
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
63.3%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$59,452
$74,755
Crime & Safety
High Crime
Fort Dodge's violent crime rate is 1061.1 per 100,000 residents
— 179% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
1061.1 /100k
Property Crime
3195.7 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Fort Dodge is served primarily by Fort Dodge Comm School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.8:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Fort Dodge, IA
National Avg
School District
Fort Dodge Comm School District
—
Elementary Schools
5
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.8:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
20.8%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
90.2%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Fort Dodge sees average highs of 25.5°F in January
and 82.7°F in July,
with 38.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 39.0 inches of snow per year.
Fort Dodge's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Fort Dodge roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $123,600 and median rent is $749/month.
Fort Dodge's violent crime rate is 1061.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3195.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Fort Dodge are operated by Fort Dodge Comm School District.
The district has 5 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.8:1. 20.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Fort Dodge, IA has a population of 24,850, a median household income of $59,452, and an unemployment rate of 3.2%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Fort Dodge averages 25.5°F in January and 82.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.3 inches
with about 39.0 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Fort Dodge, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50501.
The population of Fort Dodge, Iowa is 24,850 with a median age of 37.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Fort Dodge: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $123,600, median household income $59,452, crime index 228 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Fort Dodge side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
