Signals
Fort Dodge
Yankton
Growth
58 · Top 37%
vs64 · Top 28%
Climate
54 · Bottom 9%
vs56 · Bottom 15%
Physical resilience
61 · Top 43%
vs55 · Top 50%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 27%
vs99 · Top 33%
Access
58 · Bottom 20%
vs68 · Bottom 35%
Economic stability
61 · Top 38%
vs66 · Top 32%
Measured values
| Metric | Fort Dodge | Yankton | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 36,886 | 23,414 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $68,975 | $72,821 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $35,947 | $41,047 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 52/sq mi | 45/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $153,800 | $225,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $785 | $781 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 70.3% | 72.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.0% | 31.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 12.9% | 11.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 99 | 175 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.7 | 7.5 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 241.4% | -3.8% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 83°F | 87°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 7°F | 10°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 35.1" | 28.7" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 68 mi | 51 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 20.9 min | 16.1 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 39.7 | 42.5 | 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
Fort Dodge
Elevated or high exposure: drought, strong wind.
Yankton
Elevated or high exposure: drought, tornado, hail.
Your best match
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Fort Dodge
65
Your Score
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Area Score
Yankton
68
Your Score
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Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Fort Dodge, IA Micro Area · Yankton, SD Micro Area · How this is calculated: methodology