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

As of August 2026, the median monthly rent in Waukee, IA is $1,601. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Waukee cheaper than other Iowa cities?

Waukee is one of the pricier cities in Iowa, ranking #2 out of 33 cities tracked at $1,601/mo.

When was Waukee rent data last updated?

Waukee rent data reflects August 2026 and was last refreshed on August 17, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

What is the Fair Market Rent in Waukee, IA?

HUD sets the Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in Waukee, IA at $1,390 per month, which is 13% below the $1,601 market median. Fair Market Rent is the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) payment standard. It is a 40th-percentile gross rent that includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash, and HUD updates it once a year, so it measures something different from current market asking rent.

City Report · IA

Waukee

Name: Average Rent Prices in Waukee, IA
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Pop. 29,236·2nd most expensive in Iowa·Waukee rents are up 6.1% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$1,601/mo

Year-over-Year

+6.1%

Month-over-Month

-3.8%

vs US Median

-$361

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Waukee · $1,601

More affordable than 69% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo

Affordability

19% of income

VERY AFFORDABLE

0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,601/mo, rent takes about 19% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford

$64,000/yr

Local median income

$101,029/yr

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

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,090

1 BR

$1,160

2 BR

$1,390

3 BR

$1,870

4 BR+

$1,870

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$1,390/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,601 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

Loading…

Last updated: August 17, 2026

Annual cost

$19,212/yr

At $1,601/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 (+6.1% YoY, -3.8% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Waukee, IA is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income above the national average, 58% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

29,236

Median income

$101,029

Median age

34.7

Renters

33.5%

Age distribution

27.2%

23.3%

29.7%

Under 1827.2%

18–3423.3%

35–5429.7%

55–648.7%

65+11.1%

Gender

49.8%

50.2%

Male49.8%

Female50.2%

Race & ethnicity

79.7%

White79.7%

Black5.1%

Hispanic5.9%

Asian6.5%

Other2.8%

Education (25+)

25.9%

58%

No HS diploma4.6%

HS diploma11.5%

Some college25.9%

Bachelor's+58%

Housing tenure

66.5%

33.5%

Owner66.5%

Renter33.5%

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

2022 vs 2026

How Waukee, IA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,511 → $1,601

up 6.0%

Income

$101,138 → $101,029

down 0.1%

Population

23,441 → 29,236

up 24.7%

Renter share

28.3% → 33.5%

+5.2 pts

Bachelor's+

56.3% → 58%

+1.7 pts

Median age

34.1 → 34.7

+0.6 yrs

Since 2022, the typical rent in Waukee, IA has climbed from $1,511 to $1,601, a 6.0% change over five years. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $101,138 in 2021 to $101,029 more recently. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 24.7% since 2021, moving from about 23,441 residents to roughly 29,236. Renters now make up 33.5% of households, compared with 28.3% five years ago. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Waukee, IA market of 2022.

Community

Discussions about Waukee

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View Waukee rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Waukee on your salary?

At $1,601/mo, how Waukee rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $86,922/yr · Rent = 22.1% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $61,714/yr · Rent = 31.1% income

stretched

Police Officer

Avg $71,088/yr · Rent = 27% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $127,061/yr · Rent = 15.1% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $162,352/yr · Rent = 11.8% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $57,785/yr · Rent = 33.2% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $52,173/yr · Rent = 36.8% income

stretched

Electrician

Avg $64,308/yr · Rent = 29.9% income

affordable

By apartment size

Waukee rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Waukee

About renting in Waukee, IA

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Waukee is $1,601/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,090/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,390/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,160/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,870/mo.

At 19% of local median household income ($101,029/yr), Waukee ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 6.1% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Waukee an affordable city for renters?

Waukee is considered very affordable for renters. At $1,601/mo, rent takes approximately 19% of the local median household income ($101,029/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Waukee falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Waukee?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $64,000/year (~$31/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,601/mo in Waukee. The local median household income is $101,029/yr, meaning the typical Waukee household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Waukee?

Rent in Waukee has increased 6.1% over the past year as of August 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

How does Waukee rent compare to other cities in Iowa?

Waukee is one of the pricier cities in Iowa for rent, ranking #2 out of 33 tracked cities at $1,601/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Waukee?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Waukee ($1,601/mo): Adel ($1,094/mo), Urbandale ($1,203/mo), West Des Moines ($1,353/mo).

What percentage of Waukee residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 33.5% of Waukee households are renters, while 66.5% are owner-occupied. Waukee leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.