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

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Pella, IA is $1,085. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Pella cheaper than other Iowa cities?

Pella is among the more affordable cities in Iowa, ranking #24 out of 32 cities at $1,085/mo.

When was Pella rent data last updated?

Pella 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

Pella

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

Pop. 10,720·24th most expensive in Iowa·One of the most affordable rental markets in the US

Median rent (all units)

$1,085/mo

Year-over-Year

-1.6%

Month-over-Month

+0.3%

vs US Median

-$880

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Pella · $1,085

More affordable than 96% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Affordability

15% of income

VERY AFFORDABLE

0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,085/mo, rent takes about 15% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford

$43,000/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

Research median

$1,110/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

$13,020/yr

At $1,085/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 (-1.6% YoY, +0.3% 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 $1,085/mo, how Pella rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $86,922/yr · Rent = 15% income

very comfortable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $61,714/yr · Rent = 21.1% income

affordable

Police Officer

Avg $71,088/yr · Rent = 18.3% income

very comfortable

Software Developer

Avg $127,061/yr · Rent = 10.2% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $162,352/yr · Rent = 8% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $57,785/yr · Rent = 22.5% income

affordable

Truck Driver

Avg $52,173/yr · Rent = 25% income

affordable

Electrician

Avg $64,308/yr · Rent = 20.2% income

affordable

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: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Pella is $1,085/mo as of July 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 decreased 1.6% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Pella an affordable city for renters?

Pella is considered very affordable for renters. At $1,085/mo, rent takes approximately 15% of the local median household income ($84,111/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Pella falls comfortably within that range.

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 $43,000/year (~$21/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,085/mo in Pella. The local median household income is $84,111/yr, meaning the typical Pella household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Pella?

Rent in Pella has decreased 1.6% over the past year as of July 2026, offering some relief compared to 12 months ago.

How does Pella rent compare to other cities in Iowa?

Pella is one of the more affordable cities in Iowa for rent, ranking #24 out of 32 tracked cities at $1,085/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Pella?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Pella ($1,085/mo): Marshalltown ($930/mo), Knoxville ($941/mo), Newton ($962/mo).

What percentage of Pella residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 37.5% of Pella households are renters, while 62.5% are owner-occupied. Pella leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.