Median Age
39 Years
Largest Age Group
15-24 Years
Approximately 14% of Residents
Under 20
24%
Over 65
21%
Fort Dodge
Fort Dodge, IA Area Guide
Avg Rent
$905
Population
24,256
Renter Mix
38% Rent
North-Central Iowa’s renowned retail destination
Suburban
•
Affordable
•
Shopping
•
Restaurants
•
Family-Friendly
•
Located about 90 minutes north of the city of Des Moines, Fort Dodge is a thriving suburb in central Iowa. Home to the Fort Dodge Country Club and Iowa Central Community College, there are numerous perks of living in this affordable part of town. Residents appreciate the great outdoors in Fort Dodge, often frequenting Oleson Park for its splash pad, wooded walking trails, and music pavilion with live shows.
The Blanden Memorial Art Museum sits in a picturesque, historic building, and nearby is the sprawling Crossroads Mall. This shopping center and the area around it is what makes Fort Dodge known as North-Central Iowa’s retail center. Department stores, retailers, and a great selection of restaurants await you in this shopper’s paradise. Check out Mineral City Mill & Grill for delicious eats and a good time after you find your affordable apartment in this welcoming city.
Demographics
Median Household Income
$53,390
Average: $67,395
Education
4,336
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
11,420
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Fort Dodge has more homeowners than renters.
Renters
38%
Non-Renters
62%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
14%
Other Education
86%
Rent Trends
As of May 2026, the average apartment rent in Fort Dodge, IA is $745 for a studio, $905 for one bedroom, $1,137 for two bedrooms, and $1,620 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Fort Dodge has decreased by -3.2% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$905/month
697 Sq Ft
House
$835/month
828 Sq Ft
Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Fort Dodge, IA is for everyday living.
Fairly Walkable
Walkability
40
/ 100
Limited Public Transit
Transit
30
/ 100
Moderately Drivable
Drivability
60
/ 100
Fairly Bikeable
Bikeability
50
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Public
Grades K-5
219 Students
Public
Grades K-5
461 Students
Public
Grades K-5
379 Students
Public
Grades K-5
252 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
385 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
759 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,072 Students
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
Parks and Recreation
- Kennedy Memorial Park
- Dolliver Memorial State Park
Military Bases
Top Apartments in Fort Dodge
Houses for Rent in Fort Dodge
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Methodology
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.