Fort Dodge vs Lehigh
Fort Dodge, Iowa versus Lehigh, Iowa: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Fort Dodge and Lehigh score about the same overall (45 vs 48 of 100) — the differences are in the individual factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Fort Dodge | Lehigh |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $59k | $57k |
| Cost of Living | $41k | $41k |
| Home Value | $124k | $81k |
| Monthly Rent | $749 | $563 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $7k | $146 |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.75% | 1.46% |
| Income Tax | 6.00% | 6.00% |
| Sales Tax | 6.94% | 6.94% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 11.92% | 10.38% |
| Unemployment | 3.2% | 4.7% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 17°F | 20°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 72°F | 74°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.3 in | 38.3 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 39.0 in | 32.9 in |
| Sunny Days | 224 days | 194 days |
| Summer Humidity | 63°F | 65°F |
| Comfortable Days | 88 days | 89 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 47.7 | 72.4 |
| Air Quality | 51 AQI | 44 AQI |
| School Quality | 56.1 | 57.2 |
| Violent Crime | 2331/100k | 1734/100k |
| Property Crime | 3012/100k | 2261/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 24,850 | 423 |
| Median Age | 37.2 | 42.1 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.29 | 0.00 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 1.08 | 1.05 |
| Political Leaning | R+25 | R+25 |
| White (%) | 81.1% | 99.8% |
| Black (%) | 4.9% | 0.0% |
| Hispanic (%) | 7.4% | 0.0% |
| Asian (%) | 1.6% | 0.0% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 5.0% | 0.2% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 17 min | — |
| Walkability | 15.3/20 | 8.0/20 |
| Airport Distance | 122 mi | 120 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 79.4% | 87.8% |
| Amenities Nearby | 16.10 | 94.56 |
| Park & Nature Access | Good | Good |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Fort Dodge or Lehigh more affordable?
- Lehigh has the lower cost of living: its index is $41k, compared with Fort Dodge's $41k and Lehigh's $41k. Median rent is $749 in Fort Dodge versus $563 in Lehigh.
- Is Fort Dodge or Lehigh safer?
- Lehigh has the lower violent crime rate. Fort Dodge reports 2331/100k and Lehigh reports 1734/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Fort Dodge or Lehigh?
- The median home value is $124k in Fort Dodge and $81k in Lehigh, so homes are more affordable in Lehigh.