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Renting · Section 8

Data from November 2026

Renting in Lucas County, Iowa

Lucas County has a HUD fair market rent of $951 a month for 2 bedrooms (Fiscal year 2027). Renter households here pay a typical rent of $709 a month (Average 2020–2024). Paying the fair market rent without going over 30% of income takes $18.29 an hour, full time.

Figure your move-in cash Section 8 here
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Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$951
a month, HUD, Fiscal year 2027
15% less than in Iowa
Typical rent
$709
a month, Census, Average 2020–2024
27% less than in Iowa
Wage needed
$18.29
an hour, 2 bedrooms
Or $38,040 a year, to spend no more than 30% of income on rent.
Rent-burdened households
19%
spend 30% or more of income on rent
57% less than in Iowa

Source: Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates Average 2020–2024 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates

Only here

Renting in Lucas County: what sets it apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Lucas County has the smallest share of rent-burdened renters of the 98 counties in Iowa with this figure: 19%.

  2. 16% of households in Lucas County have no internet at home, against 7% in Iowa.

  3. Lucas County has the 9th lowest typical rent of the 99 counties in Iowa ($709).

  4. Lucas County has the 10th lowest typical household income of the 99 counties in Iowa ($61,793).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

Fair market rent

What HUD sets for each size

Every year HUD (the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) publishes a Fair Market Rent (FMR) for each home size in Lucas County. It is used to work out how much a Section 8 voucher covers. The table shows what you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income.

The fair market rent covers rent plus basic utilities, except the phone. HUD generally sets it at the 40th percentile: 4 in 10 standard-quality homes rented recently cost less. 24 CFR §888.113(a)

Fair market rent and wage needed To pay the fair market rent without spending more than 30% of income, working full time (40 hours a week).
Size Fair rent per month Hourly wage Income needed per year
Studio $706 $13.58 $28,240
1 bedroom $727 $13.98 $29,080
2 bedrooms $951 $18.29 $38,040
3 bedrooms $1,279 $24.60 $51,160
4 bedrooms $1,284 $24.69 $51,360

HUD area: Lucas County, IA. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

The fair market rent for your ZIP code

HUD also publishes fair market rents by ZIP code (Small Area FMRs) for 11 ZIP codes in Lucas County (Fiscal year 2027). Type yours to see it.

For 2 bedrooms they run from $930 in 50238 to $1,450 in 50151. 5 ZIP codes are above the county's fair market rent ($951).

Where HUD designates these areas, or where the housing agency chooses to use them, the voucher is figured on the ZIP code's rent instead of the county's. Ask your agency which one it uses. 24 CFR §982.503(a)(1)

  • 50049 · Lucas County, IA $950$1,280
  • 50049 · Marion County, IA $950$1,280
  • 50049 · Wayne County, IA $950$1,280
  • 50068 · Lucas County, IA $1,020$1,370
  • 50068 · Wayne County, IA $1,020$1,370
  • 50151 · Clarke County, IA $1,450$1,950
  • 50151 · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA $1,450$1,950
  • 50151 · Lucas County, IA $1,450$1,950
  • 50238 · Lucas County, IA $930$1,240
  • 50238 · Wayne County, IA $930$1,240
  • 50272 · Lucas County, IA $950$1,280

Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD)

Rent burden

How many households spend too much

HUD counts rent as a burden when it reaches 30% of income or more. In Lucas County, 19% of renter households are in that position; in Iowa, 44%, and nationwide, 51% (Average 2020–2024, Census).

Paying too much rent leaves little for food, transportation and savings. If that is you, the agencies below can guide you for free.

19%

of renter households spend 30% or more of their income on rent.

787 households rent in Lucas County

  • spend 30% or more of income on rent 19%
  • Spend less than 30% 81%

Compared with the state and the country

  • Lucas 19%
  • Iowa 44%
  • United States 51%

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Lucas County

HUD lists 3 properties with homes for low-income households in Lucas County: HUD-assisted buildings and public housing. They run from the most low-income homes to the fewest.

HUD-assisted
2
public housing
1

158 homes in all; 154 of them low-income, according to HUD.

  • Southgates Apts Public housing 429 S Main St, Chariton 50049 76 homes, 72 low-income · Run by Chariton Housing Agency · Average payment: $473 a month · Average wait: 2 months · (641) 774-2725
  • Autumn Park Apartments ~ Chariton HUD-assisted 330 N Main St, Chariton 50049 58 low-income homes · For older adults · (641) 774-4201
  • Woodlawn Apartments HUD-assisted 1115 Woodlawn Ave, Chariton 50049 24 low-income homes · For families · (641) 774-5227

Source: HUD, retrieved November 6, 2026. LIHTC database, updated May 14, 2025; Assisted multifamily properties, updated October 23, 2026; Public housing developments, updated October 23, 2026.

Section 8

The Section 8 voucher in Lucas County

The Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) pays part of your rent on a home you choose. Your public housing agency runs it. 1 agency serves in Lucas County. Here is what the rules say:

The rules, with their source

  1. You apply at the public housing agency. If you qualify, your name usually goes on a waiting list. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or noncitizens with eligible status as HUD defines it. HUD

  2. Generally, your family must have very low income: no more than 50% of the area median income, by family size (the middle column of the table). 24 CFR §5.603, §982.201(b)

  3. Each year, at least 75% of the families an agency admits from its list must have extremely low income (the 30% column). 24 CFR §982.201(b)(2)

  4. If the rent is below the payment standard, the family generally pays 30% of its adjusted monthly income. If it is above, the family pays more. 24 CFR §982.1(a)(3)

  5. When you move in, if the rent is above the payment standard, your share cannot go over 40% of your adjusted monthly income. 24 CFR §982.508

  6. Each agency sets a payment standard for each size. Without asking HUD, it can go from 90% to 110% of the fair market rent. 24 CFR §982.503(b), (c)

Mixed-status families: how assistance is figured
HUD income limits Yearly income of the whole family, before taxes.
People Extremely low (30%) Very low (50%) Low
$19,800 $32,950 $52,750
$22,600 $37,650 $60,250
$27,320 $42,350 $67,800
$33,000 $47,050 $75,300
$38,680 $50,850 $81,350
$44,360 $54,600 $87,350
$50,040 $58,350 $93,400
$55,720 $62,150 $99,400

Area median income: $82,900. HUD income limits by family size, Fiscal year 2026. Area: Lucas County, IA. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2026

How much can you earn? Check your case

Possible payment standard

  • Studio $635 – $777
  • 1 bedroom $654 – $800
  • 2 bedrooms $856 – $1,046
  • 3 bedrooms $1,151 – $1,407
  • 4 bedrooms $1,156 – $1,412

The range the rule allows: 90% to 110% of the county's fair market rent. Your agency publishes its own.

Housing agencies that serve this place

Housing agencies in Iowa Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Your rights as a tenant in Iowa

What Iowa law says about deposits, notices and eviction, with the citation for each rule.

See your rights, rule by rule

Compare these rules with other states →

A summary of state law, not legal advice. Cities may have additional rules.

How much can they charge for a deposit?
Up to 2 months of rent
Iowa Code §562A.12(1)
When must they return my deposit?
30 days
Iowa Code §562A.12(3)(a)
If I fall behind on rent, what notice must I get?
3 days
Iowa Code §562A.27(2)
How much notice ends a month-to-month rental?
30 days
Iowa Code §562A.34(2)
  • Only a court order can remove youIowa Code §562A.33
  • Repair and deduct from the rentIowa Code §562A.27(4)

Help

Where to get help with rent in Lucas County

This is the nearest HUD-approved agency. They counsel for free or at low cost.

  • Home Opportunities Made Easy, Inc. (home, Inc.)

    1618 6th Ave, Des Moines · 43 miles away · Spanish

    • Home improvement and repairs
    • Homelessness services
    • and 5 more
    (515) 243-1277
See every agency in Iowa Find legal aid (lsc.gov)

Tool

How much cash do you need to move in?

It starts with the 2-bedroom fair market rent in Lucas County. Change the rent, the deposit and the fees to yours: the numbers stay in your browser.

Count power on top of the rent: in Iowa, the average home bill was $112 a month in 2024 (EIA). See electricity and gas costs

Open the full tool

Your move

We use the place's fair market rent and the state's deposit rule.

Adjust advanced details
Deposit and rent in advance
The deposit, in

Let's do the math

Cash to move in

$1,902

What you need before you get the keys.

What adds up

First month
$951
Security deposit
$951
Total
$1,902

The deposit cap

Pick your state to see whether its law caps the deposit.

Compare each state's rules →

When you'll have it

Enter what you can set aside each month to see how long it takes.

What helps

  • Ask for a receipt for every payment and keep a copy of the lease.
  • On move-in day, walk through the home and take dated photos.
  • Never send money for a home you haven't seen or a lease you haven't read.
Guide: the security depositGuide: avoiding rental scamsFamily budgetHow much rent can I afford?

This is a planning estimate, not a price. What you are asked for depends on the landlord, your lease and your state's and city's rules. It is not legal advice.

Guides

Before you sign

Frequently asked questions

What is the fair market rent in Lucas County?

According to HUD (Fiscal year 2027): Studio: $706; 1 bedroom: $727; 2 bedrooms: $951; 3 bedrooms: $1,279; 4 bedrooms: $1,284. It covers rent plus basic utilities, except the phone.

How much do you need to earn to rent in Lucas County?

Paying the 2-bedroom fair market rent ($951) without spending more than 30% of income takes $18.29 an hour full time, or $38,040 a year.

Who qualifies for Section 8 in Lucas County?

Generally, families with very low income: no more than 50% of the area median income. For 4 people, HUD's limit here is $47,050 a year (Fiscal year 2026). The family usually pays 30% of its adjusted monthly income. You apply at the housing agency.

How much does Section 8 pay in Lucas County?

The voucher pays up to your housing agency's payment standard, minus your share. The rule lets the agency set it between 90% and 110% of the fair market rent: for 2 bedrooms here, between $856 and $1,046 a month. Your agency publishes its figure.

Does the fair market rent change by ZIP code in Lucas County?

For 2 bedrooms they run from $930 in 50238 to $1,450 in 50151. Where HUD designates these areas, or where the housing agency chooses to use them, the voucher is figured on the ZIP code's rent instead of the county's. Ask your agency which one it uses.

How many low-income apartments are there in Lucas County?

HUD lists 3 properties with homes for low-income households in Lucas County: HUD-assisted buildings and public housing. They run from the most low-income homes to the fewest. For tax-credit apartments and HUD-assisted buildings, you apply directly at the building's management office. They tell you whether units are open and how to apply; HUD does not have that information.

How many households spend too much on rent in Lucas County?

HUD counts rent as a burden when it reaches 30% of income or more. In Lucas County, 19% of renter households are in that position; in Iowa, 44%, and nationwide, 51% (Average 2020–2024, Census).