Cedar Falls, IA vs Fort Dodge, IA

Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.

Score Snapshot

No universal winner

Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.

Cedar Falls

79.7

#107 nationally

vs

Fort Dodge

78.6

#168 nationally

Cedar Falls leads in crime level (4.3 vs 29.1). Cedar Falls leads in median household income ($71,011 vs $59,452). Fort Dodge leads in cost of living index (84 vs 100).

Metric-by-Metric Breakdown

Metric Cedar Falls, IA Fort Dodge, IA
WhereAtHome Score 79.7 (#107) 78.6 (#168)
Population 40,737 24,591
Typical Home Value (ZHVI) $271,320 $132,746
Median Household Income $71,011 $59,452
Average Commute 15.3 min 16.8 min
Walk Score 38 34
Crime Level 4.3 29.1
School Rating N/A N/A
Cost of Living Index 100 84
Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored D+1.2 R+31.2