In Fort Madison, a typical home is worth $94,200 and typical rent is $826 a month. Compared with all of Lee County, the typical home value is 33% lower and typical household income is 19% lower.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $100,743 to $114,501.
From Zillow (ZHVI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Fort Madison is in Lee County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Lee County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
Fort Madison has the lowest typical home value of the 86 cities in Iowa with more than 5,000 people: $94,200.
2
Fort Madison has the 6th lowest typical household income of the 86 cities in Iowa with more than 5,000 people ($50,705).
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
The homes here
Housing in Fort Madison
What homes there are in Fort Madison, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).
What homes there are
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Kind of home
Detached houseAttached houseBuilding of 2 to 4Apartments (5 or more)Mobile homeBoat, RV and otherUnreliable estimate
Fort Madison
Lee County
Iowa
United States
Kind of home: Fort Madison and its comparisons
Measure
Fort Madison
Lee County
Iowa
United States
Detached house
78%
81%
72%
61%
Attached house
Unreliable estimate
1%
5%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
9%
7%
6%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
Unreliable estimate
8%
14%
19%
Mobile home
Unreliable estimate
4%
3%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
The detached house is the most common home in Fort Madison: 78% of homes, near the figure in Lee County (81%).
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or laterUnreliable estimate
Fort Madison
Lee County
Iowa
United States
Year built: Fort Madison and its comparisons
Measure
Fort Madison
Lee County
Iowa
United States
Before 1960
63%
50%
38%
26%
1960–1979
24%
27%
24%
24%
1980–1999
9%
14%
17%
25%
2000–2009
Unreliable estimate
6%
11%
14%
2010 or later
Unreliable estimate
4%
11%
11%
In Fort Madison, half of the homes were built before 1952; in Lee County, before 1960.
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Unreliable estimate
Under $100K54%
$100K–$200K33%
$200K–$300K10%
$300K–$500KUnreliable
$500K–$750KUnreliable
$750K–$1MUnreliable
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: Fort Madison and its comparisons
Measure
Fort Madison
Under $100K
54%
$100K–$200K
33%
$200K–$300K
10%
$300K–$500K
Unreliable estimate
$500K–$750K
Unreliable
$750K–$1M
Unreliable
$1M or more
Unreliable estimate
Monthly rent with utilities
Under the limitOver the limitUnreliable estimate
Under $50025%
$500–$99945%
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms: $976
$1,000–$1,49920%
$1,500–$1,999Unreliable
$2,000–$2,499Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999Unreliable
$3,000 or moreUnreliable
Monthly rent with utilities: Fort Madison and its comparisons
Measure
Fort Madison
Under $500
25%
$500–$999
45%
$1,000–$1,499
20%
$1,500–$1,999
Unreliable estimate
$2,000–$2,499
Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999
Unreliable
$3,000 or more
Unreliable estimate
About 68% of rented homes in Fort Madison cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent for Lee County ($976).
With a mortgage
$1,021 a month
Lee County: $1,303 a month
Without a mortgage
$448 a month
Lee County: $535 a month
Owners with a mortgage
59%
Lee County: 51%
The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Fort Madison is $1,021 a month, less than in Lee County ($1,303); without one, $448.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Fort Madison+15%
Lee County+50%
Iowa+41%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Fort MadisonNo clear change
Lee County+25%
Iowa+23%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Fort Madison+19%
Lee County+26%
Iowa+24%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Fort Madison and its comparisons
Measure
Fort Madison
Lee County
Iowa
United States
Typical home value
+15%
+50%
+41%
+53%
Typical rent
No clear change
+25%
+23%
+33%
Typical household income
+19%
+26%
+24%
+29%
From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in Fort Madison rose 15%; in Lee County, it rose 50%.
Since 2015–2019, the typical rent in Fort Madison did not change clearly, according to the Census.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Fort Madison and its comparisons
Measure
Fort Madison
Lee County
Iowa
United States
Rental vacancy
Unreliable estimate
7.4%
5.7%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0.8%
0.9%
More than one person per room
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
1.6%
3.4%
People per household
2.05
2.21
2.36
2.53
Drive alone
73%
82%
76%
69%
Carpool
16%
8%
8%
9%
Public transit
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
1%
3%
Walk or bike
Unreliable estimate
2%
3%
3%
Work from home
7%
6%
11%
15%
Other means
Unreliable estimate
2%
1%
2%
Typical commute
10 to 19 minutes
10 to 19 minutes
10 to 19 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
Households in Fort Madison are smaller: 2.05 people on average; in Lee County, 2.21.
Carpooling is common in Fort Madison: 16% of workers get to work that way, against 8% in Lee County.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Fort Madison?
A typical home is within reach of the typical income
We start with a typical home in Fort Madison, worth $94,200, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 20% of the typical household income in Fort Madison, which is $50,705 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Lee County.
Change the price, the down payment or the loan: the payment updates right away.
Your numbers
Local data
$
Starts at the typical home value in Fort Madison. Change it to the price you have in mind.
Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.
Down payment
%
That is $3,297 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.
This week's average ± a quarter or half point.
National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.
Adjust advanced details⌄
Estimated monthly payment
Local data
$826
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$92,494
Total interest
$133,077
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $1,591 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $1,183 a month
Your payment · 20%
Tight
$1,183 to $1,521 a month
Hard
more than $1,521 a month
Compared with the typical household income in Fort Madison ($50,705 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$627
Property tax
$119
Home insurance
$39
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$42
You need at least $3,297 for the down payment, plus closing costs.
This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.
Total monthly payment $826; principal and interest $627.
The city and its county
Fort Madison and Lee County
Fort Madison is in Lee County, Iowa. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).
Fort Madison
Map of Lee County, Iowa, with Fort Madison marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Fort Madison
Lee County
Other cities with a page
Fort Madison's own numbers
Typical home value
$94,200
Typical monthly rent
$826
Typical yearly household income
$50,705
Households that own their home
72%
Effective property tax rate
1.51%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Lee County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$976
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+40%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
5.3%
HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.
Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Lee County.
A typical home in Fort Madison is worth $94,200: 33% below the county and 55% below Iowa. With the typical household income in Fort Madison ($50,705 a year), a typical home costs 1.9 times what the household earns in a year.
Years of income to pay for a typical home
The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.
Fort Madison1.9 years
Lee2.3 years
Iowa2.8 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Lee County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Lee County rose 53% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Lee County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Lee County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +4.9% +4.9% 2016
2017: −1.2% −1.2% 2017
2018: −0.6% −0.6% 2018
2019: +0.9% +0.9% 2019
2020: +5.2% +5.2% 2020
2021: +9.5% +9.5% 2021
2022: +12.4% +12.4% 2022
2023: +1.2% +1.2% 2023
2024: +4.9% +4.9% 2024
2025: +7.2% +7.2% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Lee County, Iowa and the United States
Period
County
Iowa
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+7.2%
+3.2%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+40%
+41%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+53%
+65%
+85%
The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data
Fort Madison next to Lee County, Iowa and the U.S.
Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.
Typical home value
Fort Madison$94,200
Lee$141,400
Iowa$208,000
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Fort Madison$826
Lee$835
Iowa$972
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Fort Madison$50,705
Lee$62,382
Iowa$75,059
United States$80,734
See the full table
Fort Madison next to Lee County and Iowa
Measure
Fort Madison
Lee County
Iowa
U.S.
Typical home value
$94,200 ▼33% below the county
$141,400
$208,000
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$826
$835
$972
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$50,705 ▼19% below the county
$62,382
$75,059
$80,734
Households that own their home
72% ▼4 points below the county
76%
72%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$1,420 ▼27% below the county
$1,955
$2,897
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
1.51% ▲0.13 points above the county
1.38%
1.39%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
52% ▲2 points above the county
49%
44%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Lee County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Fort Madison
For a typical $94,200 home in Fort Madison, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Fort Madison's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$826a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$3,297
Cash to close
$6,123
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $42
Conventional, 5% down$809a month
Down payment
$4,710
Cash to close
$7,536
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $45
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$668a month
Down payment
$18,840
Cash to close
$21,666
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$755a month
Down payment
$14,130
Cash to close
$16,956
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Fort Madison
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$826
$3,297
$92,494
7.18%
FHA MIP · $42
$6,123
580
Conventional, 5% down
$809
$4,710
$89,490
7.18%
PMI · $45
$7,536
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$668
$18,840
$75,360
7.18%
None
$21,666
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$755
$14,130
$80,070
8.18%
None
$16,956
Set by the lender
The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.
Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.
Typical rent in Fort Madison is $826 a month: about the same as the county. In Fort Madison, 52% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Lee County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($976 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $18.77 an hour working full time.
What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.
HUD fair market rent in Lee County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$680
$13.08
$27,200
1 bedroom
$746
$14.35
$29,840
2 bedrooms
$976
$18.77
$39,040
3 bedrooms
$1,295
$24.90
$51,800
4 bedrooms
$1,448
$27.85
$57,920
Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027
By ZIP code
Fair market rent by ZIP code in Fort Madison
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Fort Madison is in ZIP code 52627.
For 2 bedrooms it is $980: $4 more than the fair market rent for Lee County ($976).
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Fort Madison, fiscal year 2027.
ZIP code
Studio
1 bd
2 bd
3 bd
4 bd
52627
$680
$750
$980
$1,300
$1,450
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
52627 $980$1,300
1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Fort Madison when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD)Fiscal year 2027Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship fileData from 2020 dataCensus Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (external site)
HUD lists 5 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Fort Madison. These are the largest.
Hillview Village1102 48th St, Fort Madison 52627134 low-income homes · Run by Fort Madison Housing Authority · Average payment: $402 a month · Average wait: 4 months(319) 372-6083
Bluff Apts of Fort Madison5202 River Valley Rd, Fort Madison 5262740 low-income homes · 2 bd: 24 · 3 bd: 16 · In service since 2011 · For families
Eagle Bluff Apts Phase II2803A Ave N, Fort Madison 5262724 low-income homes · 1 bd: 24 · In service since 2000 · For older adults
Rose Michael Gardens4516 Avenue L, Fort Madison 5262714 low-income homes · For older adults
Eagle Bluff Phase I2803A Ave N, Fort Madison 5262724 homes
You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.
We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Lee County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Fort Madison or Lee County. The ones below are statewide in Iowa: they work in Fort Madison the same as in the rest of the state.
With the Iowa state authority's FirstHome mortgage, a first-time buyer can get a second loan of up to 3% of the price (maximum $10,000) or up to 5% (maximum $15,000), with no monthly payments, repaid when you sell, refinance or pay off the mortgage.Offered by Iowa Finance Authority (IFA).
Iowa state authority second loan, with the Homes for Iowans mortgage, of up to 3% of the price (maximum $10,000) or 5% (maximum $15,000) for the down payment and closing costs; no monthly payments, and for any buyer.Offered by Iowa Finance Authority (IFA).
The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Fort Madison, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.
No legal help resource on our list is for Fort Madison or Lee County in particular.
If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.
Short answers with the numbers for Fort Madison and all of Lee County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.
How much does a typical home cost in Fort Madison?
The typical home value in Fort Madison is $94,200, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Lee County it is $141,400.
How much does it cost to rent in Fort Madison?
Typical rent in Fort Madison is $826 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Lee County is $976.
What is the FHA loan limit in Fort Madison?
Fort Madison uses the FHA limit for all of Lee County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.
How much property tax do owners pay in Fort Madison?
The typical homeowner in Fort Madison pays $1,420 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.51% of the home’s value; in Lee County, the rate is 1.38%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Fort Madison?
We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Lee County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
