Signals
Brookings
Fort Dodge
Growth
64 · Top 28%
vs58 · Top 37%
Climate
51 · Bottom 4%
vs54 · Bottom 9%
Physical resilience
70 · Top 28%
vs61 · Top 43%
Housing affordability
91 · Bottom 41%
vs100 · Top 27%
Access
62 · Bottom 24%
vs58 · Bottom 20%
Economic stability
72 · Top 23%
vs61 · Top 38%
Measured values
| Metric | Brookings | Fort Dodge | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 35,353 | 36,886 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $70,064 | $68,975 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $35,295 | $35,947 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 45/sq mi | 52/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $264,600 | $153,800 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $901 | $785 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 57.2% | 70.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 42.5% | 22.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 13.2% | 12.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 225 | 99 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 6.4 | 2.7 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -35.3% | 241.4% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 81°F | 83°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 4°F | 7°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 25.2" | 35.1" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 55 mi | 68 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 15.6 min | 20.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 28.0 | 39.7 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Brookings
Elevated or high exposure: tornado, strong wind.
Fort Dodge
Elevated or high exposure: drought, strong wind.
Your best match
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Brookings
68
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—
Area Score
Fort Dodge
65
Your Score
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Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Brookings, SD Micro Area · Fort Dodge, IA Micro Area · How this is calculated: methodology