Rents are 3% below what Urbandale's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
Bedroom figures are derived from HUD Fair Market Rents and scaled to match Urbandale's market median, because the published HUD values all ran above it. They are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Urbandale is 0.5% below its high of $1,043 in July 2026, at $1,038 as of September 2026.
Rent in Urbandale changed +1.6% over the year to September 2026. Across the 26 Iowa cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.5%.
Rent rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($112,795) is $2,820 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,790).
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Urbandale. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
Is your rent fair?
Compare your rent to the local median.
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.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Urbandale, IA has changed in 5 years
Since 2022, the typical rent in Urbandale, IA has climbed from $956 to $1,038, a 8.6% 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.
Discussions about Urbandale
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in Urbandale on your salary?
At $1,038/mo, how Urbandale rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Urbandale rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Urbandale. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Urbandale
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Urbandale is $1,038/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $765/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $974/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $813/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,307/mo.
At 11% of local median household income ($112,795/yr), Urbandale ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.6% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Urbandale?
Is rent going up or down in Urbandale?
Which Urbandale neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Urbandale rent compare to other cities in Iowa?
At $1,038/mo, rent takes ~11% of Urbandale's median household income ($112,795/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
Pick another city or ZIP to compare.
Estimated from ZIP-level data
Be the first to submit your rent for Urbandale.
No discussions yet.