Signals
Fort Madison
Ottumwa
Growth
46 · Bottom 43%
vs49 · Bottom 49%
Climate
60 · Bottom 28%
vs59 · Bottom 21%
Physical resilience
46 · Bottom 36%
vs37 · Bottom 25%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 27%
vs100 · Top 27%
Access
56 · Bottom 17%
vs57 · Bottom 19%
Economic stability
50 · Top 50%
vs48 · Bottom 46%
Measured values
| Metric | Fort Madison | Ottumwa | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 32,893 | 35,362 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $62,382 | $64,766 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $34,999 | $33,358 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 64/sq mi | 82/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $141,400 | $125,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $835 | $920 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 76.3% | 68.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.7% | 19.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 13.1% | 15.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 71 | 54 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.2 | 1.5 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 86.8% | 28.6% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 85°F | 86°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 16°F | 14°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 37.9" | 37.0" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 75 mi | 69 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 21.5 min | 20.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 43.6 | 39.2 | 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 Madison
Elevated or high exposure: hail, drought, strong wind.
Ottumwa
Elevated or high exposure: drought, inland flooding.
Your best match
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Fort Madison
60
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Area Score
Ottumwa
58
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Area Score
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Full profiles: Fort Madison, IA Micro Area · Ottumwa, IA Micro Area · How this is calculated: methodology