Rents are right about where North Liberty's 10-year trend predicts.
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 $1,808 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 North Liberty is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in December 2021.
Rent in North Liberty changed +7.2% over the year to September 2026. Across the 26 Iowa cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.5%.
Rent rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($102,102) is $2,553 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($2,150).
Coralville, 5 miles away, rents for 29% less ($1,282/mo), about $6,300 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for North Liberty. 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
North Liberty, IA is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income above the national average, 54.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How North Liberty, IA has changed in 5 years
Compared with 2022, rent in North Liberty, IA has increased by $443 per month, settling near $1,808 after starting the period at $1,365. On the earnings side, the typical household in North Liberty, IA now reports about $102,102, up from $96,351 in 2021. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 26.5 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 19,976 to 21,125 between 2021 and 2024, a 5.8% change. About 33.1% of households rent today, against 27.6% in 2021. For context, the 2022 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and North Liberty, IA reflects that arc in its own way.
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Can you afford rent in North Liberty on your salary?
At $1,808/mo, how North Liberty rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
North Liberty rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in North Liberty. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in North Liberty
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in North Liberty is $1,808/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $950/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,280/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,070/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,790/mo.
At 21% of local median household income ($102,102/yr), North Liberty ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 7.2% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in North Liberty?
Is rent going up or down in North Liberty?
How does North Liberty rent compare to other cities in Iowa?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than North Liberty?
At $1,808/mo, rent takes ~21% of North Liberty's median household income ($102,102/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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