How much does it cost to rent in Knoxville, IA?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Knoxville, IA is $941. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Knoxville cheaper than other Iowa cities?

Knoxville is among the more affordable cities in Iowa, ranking #29 out of 32 cities at $941/mo.

When was Knoxville rent data last updated?

Knoxville rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · IA

Knoxville

Name: Average Rent Prices in Knoxville, IA
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 7,473·29th most expensive in Iowa·Knoxville rents have dropped 9.0%, currently a renter's market

Median rent (all units)

$941/mo

Year-over-Year

-9.0%

Month-over-Month

+3.8%

vs US Median

-$1,024

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Knoxville · $941

More affordable than 99% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Affordability

18% of income

VERY AFFORDABLE

0%30% benchmark60%+

At $941/mo, rent takes about 18% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford

$38,000/yr

Local median income

$61,599/yr

Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Knoxville's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$640

1 BR

$740

2 BR

$940

3 BR

$1,130

4 BR+

$1,250

Research median

$940/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$11,292/yr

At $941/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Balanced Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.

Based on rent-price momentum (-9.0% YoY, +3.8% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

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.

Population

7,473

Median income

$61,599

Median age

42.2

Renters

24%

Age distribution

19.5%

22.9%

21.4%

13.2%

23%

Under 1819.5%

18–3422.9%

35–5421.4%

55–6413.2%

65+23%

Gender

45.6%

54.4%

Male45.6%

Female54.4%

Race & ethnicity

94.2%

White94.2%

Hispanic1.9%

Asian1.5%

Other2.1%

Education (25+)

37.2%

26.2%

30.6%

No HS diploma6.1%

HS diploma37.2%

Some college26.2%

Bachelor's+30.6%

Housing tenure

76%

24%

Owner76%

Renter24%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Knoxville, IA has changed in 5 years

Income

$52,125 → $61,599

up 18.2%

Population

7,537 → 7,473

down 0.8%

Renter share

36.7% → 24%

-12.7 pts

Bachelor's+

20.8% → 30.6%

+9.8 pts

Median age

40.1 → 42.2

+2.1 yrs

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.

Community

Discussions about Knoxville

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View Knoxville rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Knoxville on your salary?

At $941/mo, how Knoxville rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $86,922/yr · Rent = 13% income

very comfortable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $61,714/yr · Rent = 18.3% income

very comfortable

Police Officer

Avg $71,088/yr · Rent = 15.9% income

very comfortable

Software Developer

Avg $127,061/yr · Rent = 8.9% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $162,352/yr · Rent = 7% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $57,785/yr · Rent = 19.5% income

very comfortable

Truck Driver

Avg $52,173/yr · Rent = 21.6% income

affordable

Electrician

Avg $64,308/yr · Rent = 17.6% income

very comfortable

By apartment size

Knoxville rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Knoxville. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Knoxville

About renting in Knoxville, IA

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Knoxville is $941/mo as of July 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 decreased 9.0% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Knoxville an affordable city for renters?

Knoxville is considered very affordable for renters. At $941/mo, rent takes approximately 18% of the local median household income ($61,599/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Knoxville falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Knoxville?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $38,000/year (~$18/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $941/mo in Knoxville. The local median household income is $61,599/yr, meaning the typical Knoxville household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Knoxville?

Rent in Knoxville has decreased 9.0% over the past year as of July 2026, offering some relief compared to 12 months ago.

How does Knoxville rent compare to other cities in Iowa?

Knoxville is one of the more affordable cities in Iowa for rent, ranking #29 out of 32 tracked cities at $941/mo.

What percentage of Knoxville residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 24% of Knoxville households are renters, while 76% are owner-occupied. Knoxville leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.