City Report · IA

Marshalltown

Pop. 27,626·24th most expensive in Iowa·Marshalltown rents are up 10.5% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$1,024/mo

Year-over-Year

+10.5%

Month-over-Month

+0.8%

vs US Median

-$908

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Marshalltown · $1,024

More affordable than 98% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo

Affordability

18% of income

VERY AFFORDABLE

0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,024/mo, rent takes about 18% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford

$41,000/yr

Local median income

$69,068/yr

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

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$700

1 BR

$730

2 BR

$950

3 BR

$1,250

4 BR+

$1,260

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$950/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,024 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 →

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: September 25, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Past year vs. the rest of Iowa

Rent in Marshalltown changed +10.5% over the year to August 2026. Across the 27 Iowa cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.6%.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($69,068) is $1,727 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,260).

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Marshalltown. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$12,288/yr

At $1,024/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 10.5% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+10.5% YoY, +0.8% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Marshalltown, IA is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, 20.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

27,626

Median income

$69,068

Median age

35.7

Renters

31.2%

Age distribution

27%

22%

22.9%

16.5%

Under 1827%

18–3422%

35–5422.9%

55–6411.5%

65+16.5%

Gender

50.7%

49.3%

Male50.7%

Female49.3%

Race & ethnicity

60.4%

34.2%

White60.4%

Black2.8%

Hispanic34.2%

Asian4.9%

Education (25+)

18.2%

31.2%

29.7%

20.9%

No HS diploma18.2%

HS diploma31.2%

Some college29.7%

Bachelor's+20.9%

Housing tenure

68.8%

31.2%

Owner68.8%

Renter31.2%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Marshalltown, IA has changed in 5 years

Income

$57,367 → $69,068

up 20.4%

Population

27,570 → 27,626

up 0.2%

Renter share

34.5% → 31.2%

-3.3 pts

Bachelor's+

19.1% → 20.9%

+1.8 pts

Census figures show median household income at $69,068 today, compared with $57,367 five years earlier. About 31.2% of households rent today, against 34.5% in 2021.

Community

Discussions about Marshalltown

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View Marshalltown rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Marshalltown on your salary?

At $1,024/mo, how Marshalltown rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $86,922/yr · Rent = 14.1% income

very comfortable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $61,714/yr · Rent = 19.9% income

very comfortable

Police Officer

Avg $71,088/yr · Rent = 17.3% income

very comfortable

Software Developer

Avg $127,061/yr · Rent = 9.7% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $162,352/yr · Rent = 7.6% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $57,785/yr · Rent = 21.3% income

affordable

Truck Driver

Avg $52,173/yr · Rent = 23.6% income

affordable

Electrician

Avg $64,308/yr · Rent = 19.1% income

very comfortable

By apartment size

Marshalltown rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Marshalltown

About renting in Marshalltown, IA

Last updated: September 25, 2026

The median rent in Marshalltown is $1,024/mo as of September 2026. A studio apartment averages $700/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $950/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $730/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,250/mo.

At 18% of local median household income ($69,068/yr), Marshalltown ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 10.5% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Marshalltown?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $41,000/year (about $20/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,024/mo in Marshalltown. The local median household income is $69,068/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Marshalltown?

Rent in Marshalltown has risen 10.5% over the past year.

How does Marshalltown rent compare to other cities in Iowa?

Marshalltown is one of the more affordable among Iowa cities for rent, ranking #24 of 32 tracked cities at $1,024/mo. Over the year to August 2026, rent in Marshalltown changed +10.5%, against a typical +3.6% across the 27 Iowa cities Zillow tracks.