Renting
Data from November 2026
Renting in Iowa
The typical rent in Iowa is $972 a month (Average 2020–2024). HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms is about $1,113 (Fiscal year 2027, population-weighted average): paying it without spending more than 30% of income takes $21.40 an hour full time. Here are the figures by size and by county, how many households spend too much, and where to ask for help.
Key numbers in Iowa
- Typical rent
- $972
- per month, Average 2020–2024
- 31% less than the U.S.
- Fair market rent, 2 BR
- $1,113
- HUD, Fiscal year 2027, weighted average
- From $927 to $1,450 depending on the county.
- Wage needed
- $21.40
- per hour, 2 bedrooms
- About $44,520 a year to stay under 30% of income.
- Burdened households
- 44%
- spend 30% or more on rent
- Nationwide, 51%.
Fair market rent
What HUD sets by size
HUD publishes a fair market rent every year by area and home size; Section 8 and other programs use it to set what they cover. Here it runs from the cheapest to the most expensive area of Iowa, with the hourly wage it takes to pay it without going past 30% of income (40 hours a week).
Includes basic utilities. It is neither the lowest nor the highest rent on the market: it is a reference point.
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Studio
Wage: $12.42–$22.44 an hour
Lowest: $646 Highest: $1,167
-
1 bedroom
Wage: $13.63–$23.44 an hour
Lowest: $709 Highest: $1,219
-
2 bedrooms
Wage: $17.83–$27.88 an hour
Lowest: $927 Highest: $1,450
-
3 bedrooms
Wage: $21.25–$37.00 an hour
Lowest: $1,105 Highest: $1,924
-
4 bedrooms
Wage: $23.42–$41.90 an hour
Lowest: $1,218 Highest: $2,179
Each bar runs from the cheapest area to the most expensive; all share one scale that starts at zero. Source: Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)
Rent burden
How many households spend too much
HUD counts rent as a burden when it reaches 30% of income or more. In Iowa, 44% of renter households are in that position; 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.
44%
of renter households spend 30% or more of their income on rent.
372,311 renter households in Iowa
- Spend half or more of their income 22%
- Spend 30% or more, but less than half 22%
- Spend less than 30% 56%
By place
Every county, with its figure
The 2-bedroom fair market rent, the typical rent, the hourly wage it takes and the share of burdened households, in every county in Iowa. Highest fair market rent first.
| Pottawattamie County | $1,450 | $1,018 | $27.88 | 45% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mills County | $1,450 | $959 | $27.88 | 35% |
| Harrison County | $1,450 | $849 | $27.88 | 32% |
| Dallas County | $1,360 | $1,311 | $26.15 | 37% |
| Polk County | $1,360 | $1,149 | $26.15 | 46% |
| Madison County | $1,360 | $1,036 | $26.15 | 36% |
| Warren County | $1,360 | $973 | $26.15 | 42% |
| Guthrie County | $1,360 | $845 | $26.15 | 43% |
| Woodbury County | $1,194 | $981 | $22.96 | 42% |
| Johnson County | $1,180 | $1,122 | $22.69 | 56% |
| Dubuque County | $1,131 | $959 | $21.75 | 46% |
| Des Moines County | $1,104 | $904 | $21.23 | 51% |
| Black Hawk County | $1,096 | $989 | $21.08 | 49% |
| Jefferson County | $1,096 | $883 | $21.08 | 51% |
| Grundy County | $1,096 | $774 | $21.08 | 27% |
| Muscatine County | $1,093 | $971 | $21.02 | 45% |
| Dickinson County | $1,091 | $922 | $20.98 | 39% |
| Wapello County | $1,076 | $920 | $20.69 | 48% |
| Davis County | $1,066 | $868 | $20.50 | 25% |
| Story County | $1,061 | $1,018 | $20.40 | 49% |
| Scott County | $1,056 | $1,005 | $20.31 | 47% |
| Linn County | $1,054 | $945 | $20.27 | 45% |
| Buena Vista County | $1,031 | $894 | $19.83 | 30% |
| Bremer County | $1,023 | $921 | $19.67 | 33% |
| Marion County | $1,021 | $884 | $19.63 | 38% |
| Plymouth County | $1,018 | $910 | $19.58 | 31% |
| Poweshiek County | $1,014 | $883 | $19.50 | 40% |
| Hamilton County | $1,004 | $877 | $19.31 | 32% |
| Washington County | $1,002 | $879 | $19.27 | 32% |
| Sioux County | $1,000 | $908 | $19.23 | 30% |
| Jasper County | $989 | $836 | $19.02 | 47% |
| Benton County | $982 | $826 | $18.88 | 35% |
| Lee County | $976 | $835 | $18.77 | 49% |
| Cedar County | $969 | $879 | $18.63 | 50% |
| Boone County | $967 | $845 | $18.60 | 38% |
| Henry County | $958 | $820 | $18.42 | 39% |
| Kossuth County | $954 | $859 | $18.35 | 31% |
| Adair County | $954 | $799 | $18.35 | 33% |
| Lucas County | $951 | $709 | $18.29 | 19% |
| Van Buren County | $950 | $622 | $18.27 | — |
| Clarke County | $946 | $931 | $18.19 | 44% |
| Mahaska County | $946 | $793 | $18.19 | 33% |
| Tama County | $945 | $872 | $18.17 | 36% |
| Lyon County | $945 | $843 | $18.17 | 29% |
| Wright County | $944 | $790 | $18.15 | 41% |
| Adams County | $943 | $893 | $18.13 | 39% |
| Marshall County | $940 | $885 | $18.08 | 32% |
| Fayette County | $940 | $881 | $18.08 | 44% |
| Buchanan County | $937 | $848 | $18.02 | 37% |
| O'Brien County | $927 | $868 | $17.83 | 32% |
| Winneshiek County | $927 | $861 | $17.83 | 36% |
| Monona County | $927 | $855 | $17.83 | 40% |
| Cerro Gordo County | $927 | $850 | $17.83 | 35% |
| Clinton County | $927 | $850 | $17.83 | 48% |
| Pocahontas County | $927 | $832 | $17.83 | 41% |
| Keokuk County | $927 | $828 | $17.83 | 38% |
| Montgomery County | $927 | $814 | $17.83 | 53% |
| Butler County | $927 | $812 | $17.83 | 38% |
| Clay County | $927 | $811 | $17.83 | 36% |
| Jackson County | $927 | $807 | $17.83 | 45% |
| Monroe County | $927 | $798 | $17.83 | 54% |
| Osceola County | $927 | $797 | $17.83 | 53% |
| Allamakee County | $927 | $796 | $17.83 | 36% |
| Hardin County | $927 | $795 | $17.83 | 42% |
| Clayton County | $927 | $790 | $17.83 | 46% |
| Webster County | $927 | $785 | $17.83 | 40% |
| Appanoose County | $927 | $784 | $17.83 | 46% |
| Jones County | $927 | $784 | $17.83 | 35% |
| Shelby County | $927 | $783 | $17.83 | 51% |
| Greene County | $927 | $781 | $17.83 | 32% |
| Cass County | $927 | $777 | $17.83 | 49% |
| Louisa County | $927 | $775 | $17.83 | 31% |
| Taylor County | $927 | $765 | $17.83 | 31% |
| Delaware County | $927 | $764 | $17.83 | 47% |
| Audubon County | $927 | $759 | $17.83 | 51% |
| Cherokee County | $927 | $758 | $17.83 | 48% |
| Worth County | $927 | $758 | $17.83 | 21% |
| Fremont County | $927 | $746 | $17.83 | 25% |
| Floyd County | $927 | $745 | $17.83 | 44% |
| Humboldt County | $927 | $744 | $17.83 | 34% |
| Crawford County | $927 | $743 | $17.83 | 34% |
| Chickasaw County | $927 | $738 | $17.83 | 30% |
| Mitchell County | $927 | $738 | $17.83 | 36% |
| Hancock County | $927 | $736 | $17.83 | 40% |
| Emmet County | $927 | $733 | $17.83 | 38% |
| Carroll County | $927 | $731 | $17.83 | 36% |
| Calhoun County | $927 | $723 | $17.83 | 35% |
| Sac County | $927 | $722 | $17.83 | 32% |
| Union County | $927 | $721 | $17.83 | 35% |
| Winnebago County | $927 | $717 | $17.83 | 36% |
| Howard County | $927 | $713 | $17.83 | 27% |
| Ringgold County | $927 | $710 | $17.83 | 41% |
| Page County | $927 | $705 | $17.83 | 41% |
| Franklin County | $927 | $696 | $17.83 | 33% |
| Ida County | $927 | $696 | $17.83 | 25% |
| Iowa County | $927 | $686 | $17.83 | 27% |
| Wayne County | $927 | $659 | $17.83 | 33% |
| Palo Alto County | $927 | $638 | $17.83 | 42% |
| Decatur County | $927 | $611 | $17.83 | 30% |
- Pottawattamie $1,450$27.88
- Mills $1,450$27.88
- Harrison $1,450$27.88
- Dallas $1,360$26.15
- Polk $1,360$26.15
- Madison $1,360$26.15
- Warren $1,360$26.15
- Guthrie $1,360$26.15
- Woodbury $1,194$22.96
- Johnson $1,180$22.69
- Dubuque $1,131$21.75
- Des Moines $1,104$21.23
- Black Hawk $1,096$21.08
- Jefferson $1,096$21.08
- Grundy $1,096$21.08
- Muscatine $1,093$21.02
- Dickinson $1,091$20.98
- Wapello $1,076$20.69
- Davis $1,066$20.50
- Story $1,061$20.40
- Scott $1,056$20.31
- Linn $1,054$20.27
- Buena Vista $1,031$19.83
- Bremer $1,023$19.67
- Marion $1,021$19.63
- Plymouth $1,018$19.58
- Poweshiek $1,014$19.50
- Hamilton $1,004$19.31
- Washington $1,002$19.27
- Sioux $1,000$19.23
- Jasper $989$19.02
- Benton $982$18.88
- Lee $976$18.77
- Cedar $969$18.63
- Boone $967$18.60
- Henry $958$18.42
- Kossuth $954$18.35
- Adair $954$18.35
- Lucas $951$18.29
- Van Buren $950$18.27
- Clarke $946$18.19
- Mahaska $946$18.19
- Tama $945$18.17
- Lyon $945$18.17
- Wright $944$18.15
- Adams $943$18.13
- Marshall $940$18.08
- Fayette $940$18.08
- Buchanan $937$18.02
- O'Brien $927$17.83
- Winneshiek $927$17.83
- Monona $927$17.83
- Cerro Gordo $927$17.83
- Clinton $927$17.83
- Pocahontas $927$17.83
- Keokuk $927$17.83
- Montgomery $927$17.83
- Butler $927$17.83
- Clay $927$17.83
- Jackson $927$17.83
- Monroe $927$17.83
- Osceola $927$17.83
- Allamakee $927$17.83
- Hardin $927$17.83
- Clayton $927$17.83
- Webster $927$17.83
- Appanoose $927$17.83
- Jones $927$17.83
- Shelby $927$17.83
- Greene $927$17.83
- Cass $927$17.83
- Louisa $927$17.83
- Taylor $927$17.83
- Delaware $927$17.83
- Audubon $927$17.83
- Cherokee $927$17.83
- Worth $927$17.83
- Fremont $927$17.83
- Floyd $927$17.83
- Humboldt $927$17.83
- Crawford $927$17.83
- Chickasaw $927$17.83
- Mitchell $927$17.83
- Hancock $927$17.83
- Emmet $927$17.83
- Carroll $927$17.83
- Calhoun $927$17.83
- Sac $927$17.83
- Union $927$17.83
- Winnebago $927$17.83
- Howard $927$17.83
- Ringgold $927$17.83
- Page $927$17.83
- Franklin $927$17.83
- Ida $927$17.83
- Iowa $927$17.83
- Wayne $927$17.83
- Palo Alto $927$17.83
- Decatur $927$17.83
Source: Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site) Source: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates Average 2020–2024 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (external site)
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 ruleA 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 ask for help with rent in Iowa
Free or official help. Demand usually exceeds funding, so waiting lists are common: ask at the agency for your county.
-
11 counseling agencies
HUD-approved; 4 serve in Spanish. They counsel renters for free.
See the agencies
Tool
How much rent can you afford?
Enter your income and compare with the fair market rent in your county.
Frequently asked questions
Which county in Iowa is the most expensive to rent in?
By 2-bedroom fair market rent (Fiscal year 2027), the most expensive is Pottawattamie County ($1,450, about $27.88 an hour) and the cheapest O'Brien County ($927, about $17.83 an hour).
How many households in Iowa spend too much on rent?
44% of renter households in Iowa spend 30% or more of their income on rent, and 22% spend half or more (Average 2020–2024, Census). Nationwide, 51%.
What is fair market rent?
A figure HUD publishes every year by area and home size; Section 8 and other programs use it to set what they pay. It is not a market price or a cap on landlords. In Iowa, for 2 bedrooms in Fiscal year 2027, it runs from $927 to $1,450 depending on the county.
Where do I ask for help paying rent in Iowa?
63 public housing agencies run Section 8 vouchers and public housing in Iowa; demand usually exceeds funding and waiting lists are common. HUD-approved counseling agencies counsel for free. Your county page shows the nearest ones.