Rent Affordability for A Bus Driver in Iowa
A typical bus driver in Iowa earns about $47,674 a year, which supports approximately $1,192 a month in rent under the 30% rule. Below, every tracked Iowa city is ranked by how local rent compares against that affordability ceiling.
As of May 2026. 15 of 35 cities tracked stay within the 30% rule; 20 are rent-burdened on this salary.
| City↕ | Median rent↕ | % of income↑ | Affordability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinton, IA | $775/mo | 19.5% | very comfortable |
| Fort Dodge, IA | $804/mo | 20.2% | affordable |
| Boone, IA | $814/mo | 20.5% | affordable |
| Knoxville, IA | $906/mo | 22.8% | affordable |
| Waterloo, IA | $909/mo | 22.9% | affordable |
| Newton, IA | $947/mo | 23.8% | affordable |
| Davenport, IA | $965/mo | 24.3% | affordable |
| Burlington, IA | $983/mo | 24.7% | affordable |
| Marshalltown, IA | $1,024/mo | 25.8% | affordable |
| Indianola, IA | $1,034/mo | 26% | affordable |
| Urbandale, IA | $1,038/mo | 26.1% | affordable |
| Pella, IA | $1,052/mo | 26.5% | affordable |
| Dubuque, IA | $1,073/mo | 27% | affordable |
| Adel, IA | $1,094/mo | 27.5% | affordable |
| Des Moines, IA | $1,129/mo | 28.4% | affordable |
| Norwalk, IA | $1,208/mo | 30.4% | stretched |
| Ames, IA | $1,240/mo | 31.2% | stretched |
| Sioux City, IA | $1,267/mo | 31.9% | stretched |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $1,274/mo | 32.1% | stretched |
| Coralville, IA | $1,282/mo | 32.3% | stretched |
| Marion, IA | $1,287/mo | 32.4% | stretched |
| Council Bluffs, IA | $1,335/mo | 33.6% | stretched |
| Pleasant Hill, IA | $1,339/mo | 33.7% | stretched |
| West Des Moines, IA | $1,353/mo | 34.1% | stretched |
| Johnston, IA | $1,356/mo | 34.1% | stretched |
| Grimes, IA | $1,396/mo | 35.1% | stretched |
| Cedar Falls, IA | $1,405/mo | 35.4% | stretched |
| Ankeny, IA | $1,464/mo | 36.9% | stretched |
| Bettendorf, IA | $1,466/mo | 36.9% | stretched |
| Altoona, IA | $1,583/mo | 39.8% | stretched |
| Waukee, IA | $1,640/mo | 41.3% | rent-burdened |
| Iowa City, IA | $1,713/mo | 43.1% | rent-burdened |
| Tiffin, IA | $1,771/mo | 44.6% | rent-burdened |
| North Liberty, IA | $1,808/mo | 45.5% | rent-burdened |
| Le Claire, IA | $2,967/mo | 74.7% | severely rent-burdened |