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All rankings computed from publicly available federal and state government datasets. No proprietary, synthetic, or estimated data is used.

Bureau of Labor Statistics, LAUS (Dec 2025) Β· U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 Β· FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, 2024 Β· America's Health Rankings, 2025 Β· WalletHub/NAEP, 2025 Β· U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024 Β· Cook Political Report, PVI 2024 Β· Tax Foundation, Facts & Figures 2025 Β· ALEC Rich States Poor States, 2025 Β· WalletHub Tax Burden Study, 2025 Β· U.S. Census Bureau / FHFA, 2025 Β· BEA Regional Price Parities, 2023 Β· EPA AirData, Median AQI by County 2024 Β· EIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024 Β· FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, 2025 Β· U.S. Census Bureau, Net Domestic Migration 2024 Β· FCC / BroadbandNow, Broadband Access 2025 Β· National Park Service API, 2024 Β· USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US), 2024 Β· U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2022 Β· U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2023 (Commuting) Β· FHWA Highway Statistics, 2023 Β· U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2022 Β· EIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024 Β· EIA Natural Gas Prices, 2024 Β· DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2023 Β· BEA Regional Price Parities (Food), 2023 Β· NCES Common Core of Data (CCD), 2023-24 Β· EDFacts ACGR Graduation Rates, 2021-22 Β· NCES School District Finance Survey (F-33), 2022-23 Β· BEA GDP by State (SAGDP9), 2023 Β· NASBO Fiscal Survey of States, FY2023 Β· Census Bureau State Government Finances, FY2022 Β· Pew Charitable Trusts Fiscal 50, FY2023 Β· Pew Charitable Trusts, FY2022 Β· S&P/Moody's via Ballotpedia, 2025 Β· Bureau of Labor Statistics, OES (May 2023) Β· IRS Statistics of Income, Migration Data 2021-2022

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National/IA/Fort Dodge
C

Fort Dodge

IowaΒ·Rank #736 of 20 in IAΒ·Pop. 24,788
Composite Score46.6

Fort Dodge, Iowa scores 46.6/100 (C grade), ranking #736 of 20 cities in Iowa. Median income: $61,769. Crime rate: 684.1/100K.

πŸ’΅ Median Income
$61,769
β–Ό $10,660vs state ($72,429)
πŸ’Ό Unemployment
3.2%
β–Ό 0.2%vs state (3%)
πŸ”’ Violent Crime
684.1
β–Ό 389.1vs state (295)
πŸ“ˆ Pop. Growth
+0.7%
β–² 0.3%vs state (+0.4%)
πŸ›‘οΈViolent Crime Rate
684.1
per 100K Β· State avg: 295
🏚️Property Crime Rate
3351.4
per 100K Β· State avg: 1713
🏠Median Home Value
$128,900
Census ACS 2023
πŸ”‘Median Rent
$764/mo
Census ACS 2023
πŸ›’Cost of Living
N/A
100 = national avg
πŸ’ΈRent Burden
14.8%
Rent as % of income
πŸ“Price-to-Income
2.1x
Home value Γ· income
πŸ“ŠPoverty Rate
14.4%
Census ACS 2023
πŸŽ“Graduation Rate
86%
EDFacts ACGR 2021-22
πŸ‘©β€πŸ«Student-Teacher Ratio
16.5:1
NCES CCD 2023-24
πŸ’΅Per-Pupil Spending
$12,486
NCES F-33 Finance 2022-23
πŸ“šTotal Enrollment
3,470
NCES CCD 2023-24
🏫Public Schools
7
Regular public schools
βš–οΈObesity Rate
41.7%
CDC PLACES 2023
🩺Diabetes Rate
11.8%
CDC PLACES 2023
🧠Poor Mental Health Days
17.5
per 30 days Β· CDC BRFSS
πŸš—Mean Commute
16.3 min
State avg: 17.8 min
πŸš‡Public Transit Use
0.4%
State avg: 0.8%
πŸ’»Work From Home
3.2%
State avg: 9.3%
🌑️Annual Avg
51.5Β°F
NOAA Climate Normals
β˜€οΈSummer Avg
73.5Β°F
Jun\u2013Aug average
❄️Winter Avg
28.4Β°F
Dec\u2013Feb average
🌧️Annual Precip
31"
inches per year

Fort Dodge vs Iowa

Fort DodgeIowa

Scores by Category

πŸ’° Economy51.6
β–Ό 4.5 vs state (state: 56.1)
πŸ›‘οΈ Safety39.2
β–Ό 28.1 vs state (state: 67.3)
πŸ₯ Health42.5
β–Ό 14.6 vs state (state: 57.1)
πŸŽ“ Education51.6
β–Ό 26 vs state (state: 77.6)
πŸ’Ό Fiscal Health40.5
β–Ό 25.5 vs state (state: 66)
πŸ“ˆ Growth51
β–² 9.5 vs state (state: 41.5)
🏠 Affordability76.2
β–Ό 8.8 vs state (state: 85)
🌿 Environment46.7
β€” same as state (state: 46.7)
🏞️ Outdoor Access22.4
β€” same as state (state: 22.4)
πŸš‡ Transportation38.4
β–Ό 8.7 vs state (state: 47.1)
🎭 Livability36.7
β–² 1.8 vs state (state: 34.9)

Fort Dodge vs Iowa

More Cities in Iowa

Waukee69.5Ankeny65.3Urbandale65.3West Des Moines61.7Marion61.3Bettendorf60.9Cedar Falls59.6Ames56.6Cedar Rapids54.0

Fort Dodge, Iowa Overview

Fort Dodge earns an overall grade of C with a composite score of 46.6 out of 100, ranking #736 of 20 cities in Iowa. The city's strongest category is Affordability (76/100) while its biggest challenge is Outdoor Access (22/100).

Income & Employment in Fort Dodge

The median household income in Fort Dodge is $61,769 according to Census ACS data. The unemployment rate is 3.2%. The city's population grew 0.7% recently, indicating strong demand.

Safety in Fort Dodge

Fort Dodge has a violent crime rate of 684.1 per 100,000 residents. This is above the national average, and safety is an important factor to consider. The property crime rate is 3351.4 per 100,000.

Cost of Living in Fort Dodge

Cost of living data helps residents compare affordability across cities. The median home value is $128,900. Median monthly rent is $764.

Health & Wellness in Fort Dodge

The adult obesity rate in Fort Dodge is 41.7% according to CDC PLACES data. The diabetes prevalence rate is 11.8%. Residents report an average of 17.5 poor mental health days per month. These health indicators are important for assessing overall quality of life in Fort Dodge, Iowa.

Education & Schools in Fort Dodge

Fort Dodge has 7 public schools serving 3,470 students. The high school graduation rate is 86%, a solid rate. The student-teacher ratio is 16.5:1. The district spends $12,486 per student. School data is sourced from the NCES Common Core of Data and EDFacts.

Climate in Fort Dodge

Fort Dodge has an annual average temperature of 51.5Β°F. Summers average 73.5Β°F. Winters average 28.4Β°F. The city receives approximately 31 inches of precipitation per year.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the overall score for Fort Dodge, Iowa?

Fort Dodge has an overall score of 46.6 out of 100, earning a C grade and ranking #736 among 20 cities in Iowa.

What is the median income in Fort Dodge?

The median household income in Fort Dodge is $61,769, based on Census ACS data.

Is Fort Dodge safe?

Fort Dodge has a violent crime rate of 684.1 per 100,000 residents.

What is the cost of living in Fort Dodge?

Cost of living data for Fort Dodge helps residents compare affordability. See the full profile for details.

How are the public schools in Fort Dodge?

Fort Dodge has 7 public schools with a 86% graduation rate. The student-teacher ratio is 16.5:1.

← Back to Iowa

Data Sources

πŸ“ŽBureau of Labor Statistics, LAUS (Dec 2025)πŸ“ŽU.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024πŸ“ŽFBI Uniform Crime Reporting, 2024πŸ“ŽAmerica's Health Rankings, 2025πŸ“ŽWalletHub/NAEP, 2025πŸ“ŽU.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024πŸ“ŽCook Political Report, PVI 2024πŸ“ŽTax Foundation, Facts & Figures 2025πŸ“ŽALEC Rich States Poor States, 2025πŸ“ŽWalletHub Tax Burden Study, 2025πŸ“ŽU.S. Census Bureau / FHFA, 2025πŸ“ŽBEA Regional Price Parities, 2023πŸ“ŽEPA AirData, Median AQI by County 2024πŸ“ŽEIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024πŸ“ŽFEMA National Risk Index v1.20, 2025πŸ“ŽU.S. Census Bureau, Net Domestic Migration 2024πŸ“ŽFCC / BroadbandNow, Broadband Access 2025πŸ“ŽNational Park Service API, 2024πŸ“ŽUSGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US), 2024πŸ“ŽU.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2022πŸ“ŽU.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2023 (Commuting)πŸ“ŽFHWA Highway Statistics, 2023πŸ“ŽU.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2022πŸ“ŽEIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024πŸ“ŽEIA Natural Gas Prices, 2024πŸ“ŽDOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2023πŸ“ŽBEA Regional Price Parities (Food), 2023πŸ“ŽNCES Common Core of Data (CCD), 2023-24πŸ“ŽEDFacts ACGR Graduation Rates, 2021-22πŸ“ŽNCES School District Finance Survey (F-33), 2022-23πŸ“ŽBEA GDP by State (SAGDP9), 2023πŸ“ŽNASBO Fiscal Survey of States, FY2023πŸ“ŽCensus Bureau State Government Finances, FY2022πŸ“ŽPew Charitable Trusts Fiscal 50, FY2023πŸ“ŽPew Charitable Trusts, FY2022πŸ“ŽS&P/Moody's via Ballotpedia, 2025πŸ“ŽBureau of Labor Statistics, OES (May 2023)πŸ“ŽIRS Statistics of Income, Migration Data 2021-2022