Rents are 11% below what Cedar Falls's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,251 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: August 17, 2026
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Who lives here
Cedar Falls, IA is majority owner-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, 50.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Cedar Falls, IA has changed in 5 years
Across the past five years, the going rent in Cedar Falls, IA has shifted from $1,154 to $1,251, up 8.4% since 2021. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $66,838 in 2021 to $76,987 more recently. With wages climbing faster than rent over the same window, renters here have a bit more breathing room than they did five years back. Census counts show Cedar Falls, IA adding about 388 residents over the five-year window, up 1.0% on net. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Cedar Falls, IA market of 2021.
Discussions about Cedar Falls
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Can you afford rent in Cedar Falls on your salary?
At $1,251/mo, how Cedar Falls rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Cedar Falls rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Cedar Falls. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Cedar Falls
Last updated: August 17, 2026
The median rent in Cedar Falls is $1,251/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $770/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,120/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $850/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,460/mo.
At 19% of local median household income ($76,987/yr), Cedar Falls ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 6.7% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cedar Falls an affordable city for renters?
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Is rent going up or down in Cedar Falls?
How does Cedar Falls rent compare to other cities in Iowa?
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What percentage of Cedar Falls residents rent vs. own?
How does Cedar Falls rent compare to the national average?
At $1,251/mo, rent takes ~19% of Cedar Falls's median household income ($76,987/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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