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

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Urbandale, IA is $1,197. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Urbandale cheaper than other Iowa cities?

Urbandale falls in the middle range for Iowa, ranking #19 out of 32 cities at $1,197/mo.

When was Urbandale rent data last updated?

Urbandale 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

Urbandale

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

Pop. 46,595·19th most expensive in Iowa·Urbandale rents are up 16.0% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$1,197/mo

Year-over-Year

+16.0%

Month-over-Month

-7.8%

vs US Median

-$768

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Urbandale · $1,197

More affordable than 92% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Affordability

13% of income

VERY AFFORDABLE

0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,197/mo, rent takes about 13% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford

$48,000/yr

Local median income

$112,795/yr

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

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,045

1 BR

$1,110

2 BR

$1,330

3 BR

$1,785

4 BR+

$1,790

Research median

$1,330/mo

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

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$14,364/yr

At $1,197/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 (+16.0% YoY, -7.8% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Urbandale, IA is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income above the national average, 51.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

46,595

Median income

$112,795

Median age

39.2

Renters

21.9%

Age distribution

25.3%

18.8%

28.1%

13.1%

14.8%

Under 1825.3%

18–3418.8%

35–5428.1%

55–6413.1%

65+14.8%

Gender

50.7%

49.3%

Male50.7%

Female49.3%

Race & ethnicity

83.4%

White83.4%

Black5%

Hispanic7.2%

Asian4.9%

Education (25+)

18%

24.7%

51.2%

No HS diploma6.1%

HS diploma18%

Some college24.7%

Bachelor's+51.2%

Housing tenure

78.1%

21.9%

Owner78.1%

Renter21.9%

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

2022 vs 2026

How Urbandale, IA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,179 → $1,197

up 1.5%

Income

$100,589 → $112,795

up 12.1%

Population

45,037 → 46,595

up 3.5%

Renter share

22.4% → 21.9%

-0.5 pts

Bachelor's+

50.7% → 51.2%

+0.5 pts

Median age

38 → 39.2

+1.2 yrs

Since 2022, the typical rent in Urbandale, IA has climbed from $1,179 to $1,197, a 1.5% change over five years. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $100,589 in 2021 to $112,795 more recently. On paper, paychecks moved up faster than rent, which softens the affordability squeeze versus the 2021 baseline. The population has grown by 3.5% since 2021, moving from about 45,037 residents to roughly 46,595. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Urbandale, IA market of 2022.

Community

Discussions about Urbandale

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View Urbandale rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Urbandale on your salary?

At $1,197/mo, how Urbandale rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $86,922/yr · Rent = 16.5% income

very comfortable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $61,714/yr · Rent = 23.3% income

affordable

Police Officer

Avg $71,088/yr · Rent = 20.2% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $127,061/yr · Rent = 11.3% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $162,352/yr · Rent = 8.8% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $57,785/yr · Rent = 24.9% income

affordable

Truck Driver

Avg $52,173/yr · Rent = 27.5% income

affordable

Electrician

Avg $64,308/yr · Rent = 22.3% income

affordable

By apartment size

Urbandale rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Urbandale

About renting in Urbandale, IA

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Urbandale is $1,197/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,045/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,330/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,110/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,785/mo.

At 13% of local median household income ($112,795/yr), Urbandale ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 16.0% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Urbandale an affordable city for renters?

Urbandale is considered very affordable for renters. At $1,197/mo, rent takes approximately 13% of the local median household income ($112,795/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Urbandale falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Urbandale?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $48,000/year (~$23/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,197/mo in Urbandale. The local median household income is $112,795/yr, meaning the typical Urbandale household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Urbandale?

Rent in Urbandale has increased 16.0% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Urbandale neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Urbandale are 50322 ($1,083/mo), and 50323 ($1,723/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Urbandale is $1,197/mo.

How does Urbandale rent compare to other cities in Iowa?

Urbandale is middle-of-the-pack for Iowa for rent, ranking #19 out of 32 tracked cities at $1,197/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Urbandale?

Des Moines is nearby and more affordable at $1,121/mo, which is $76 less than Urbandale.

What percentage of Urbandale residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 21.9% of Urbandale households are renters, while 78.1% are owner-occupied. Urbandale leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.