Fort Dodge, IA
Census place 1928515 · pop 24,827
Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 152/100k · worse than most cities
1082 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 964/100k · worse than most cities
3281 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities
41.7% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities
85.9% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities
1.69% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities
16.6% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities
21.7% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$60,649 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities
15.9% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities
28.4% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities
Gini 0.45 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities
17.5% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities
+2.3% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median 67.2% · better than most cities
64.4% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities
8.6% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities
3.3% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities
75/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities
19 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities
$144,100 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities
$825/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).
Not measured for Fort Dodge: Air, Bad air. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.
Frequently asked
- Is Fort Dodge, IA a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Fort Dodge scores 46/100 — a D− (Rough) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 20 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is rent and its weakest is violent crime rate. Iowa overall ranks #11 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- How safe is Fort Dodge, IA?
- Fort Dodge reports 1082 violent crimes per 100k and 3281 property crimes per 100k — worse than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
- Is Fort Dodge, IA expensive to live in?
- Fort Dodge has a median home value of $144,100 and typical rent around $825/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Fort Dodge, IA?
- Its weakest measured area is violent crime rate (1082/100k) — 3/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Fort Dodge, IA best at?
- Its strongest measured area is rent ($825/mo) — 99/100, better than most U.S. cities.
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.