At $906/mo, rent takes about 18% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.
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 $906 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: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Knoxville changed +0.1% over the year to September 2026. Across the 26 Iowa cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.5%.
Rent rose in 6 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($61,599) is $1,540 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,250).
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Knoxville. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Knoxville, IA is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income below the national average, 30.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Knoxville, IA has changed in 5 years
Median household income climbed from $52,125 to $61,599 between 2021 and 2024, a 18.2% shift. The renter share has eased from 36.7% to 24%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 20.8% to 30.6% across the same window.
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Can you afford rent in Knoxville on your salary?
At $906/mo, how Knoxville rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Knoxville rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Knoxville. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Knoxville
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Knoxville is $906/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $640/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $940/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $740/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,130/mo.
At 18% of local median household income ($61,599/yr), Knoxville ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 0.1% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Knoxville?
Is rent going up or down in Knoxville?
How does Knoxville rent compare to other cities in Iowa?
At $906/mo, rent takes ~18% of Knoxville's median household income ($61,599/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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