City Report · IA

Pella

Pop. 10,720·23rd most expensive in Iowa·Pella rents are up 5.1% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$1,052/mo

Year-over-Year

+5.1%

Month-over-Month

+1.1%

vs US Median

-$880

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Pella · $1,052

More affordable than 97% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo

Affordability

15% of income

VERY AFFORDABLE

0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,052/mo, rent takes about 15% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford

$42,000/yr

Local median income

$84,111/yr

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

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$760

1 BR

$870

2 BR

$1,110

3 BR

$1,330

4 BR+

$1,470

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$1,110/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,052 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: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Past year vs. the rest of Iowa

Rent in Pella changed +5.1% over the year to September 2026. Across the 26 Iowa cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.5%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 3 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($84,111) is $2,103 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,470).

Cheaper nearby

Knoxville, 14 miles away, rents for 14% less ($906/mo), about $1,800 a year in savings.

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

Annual cost

$12,624/yr

At $1,052/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 5.1% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+5.1% YoY, +1.1% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Pella, IA is majority owner-occupied, 47.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

10,720

Median income

$84,111

Median age

35.2

Renters

37.5%

Age distribution

21.5%

28.2%

22.6%

18.8%

Under 1821.5%

18–3428.2%

35–5422.6%

55–648.9%

65+18.8%

Gender

52.1%

47.9%

Male52.1%

Female47.9%

Race & ethnicity

95.1%

White95.1%

Hispanic3.2%

Asian1.3%

Education (25+)

26.2%

23.3%

47.3%

No HS diploma3.2%

HS diploma26.2%

Some college23.3%

Bachelor's+47.3%

Housing tenure

62.5%

37.5%

Owner62.5%

Renter37.5%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Pella, IA has changed in 5 years

Income

$80,270 → $84,111

up 4.8%

Population

10,414 → 10,720

up 2.9%

Renter share

32.8% → 37.5%

+4.7 pts

Bachelor's+

45% → 47.3%

+2.3 pts

Median age

36.5 → 35.2

-1.3 yrs

Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $80,270 in 2021 to $84,111 more recently. Headcount in the area went from 10,414 to 10,720 between 2021 and 2024, a 2.9% change. About 37.5% of households rent today, against 32.8% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 45% to 47.3%.

Community

Discussions about Pella

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View Pella rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Pella on your salary?

At $1,052/mo, how Pella rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $86,922/yr · Rent = 14.5% income

very comfortable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $61,714/yr · Rent = 20.5% income

affordable

Police Officer

Avg $71,088/yr · Rent = 17.8% income

very comfortable

Software Developer

Avg $127,061/yr · Rent = 9.9% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $162,352/yr · Rent = 7.8% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $57,785/yr · Rent = 21.8% income

affordable

Truck Driver

Avg $52,173/yr · Rent = 24.2% income

affordable

Electrician

Avg $64,308/yr · Rent = 19.6% income

very comfortable

By apartment size

Pella rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Pella

About renting in Pella, IA

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Pella is $1,052/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $760/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,110/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $870/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,330/mo.

At 15% of local median household income ($84,111/yr), Pella ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.1% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Pella?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $42,000/year (about $20/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,052/mo in Pella. The local median household income is $84,111/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Pella?

Rent in Pella has risen 5.1% over the past year.

How does Pella rent compare to other cities in Iowa?

Pella is one of the more affordable among Iowa cities for rent, ranking #23 of 32 tracked cities at $1,052/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Pella changed +5.1%, against a typical +4.5% across the 26 Iowa cities Zillow tracks.