Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Ankeny, IA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 38.3% of gross income.

Ankeny rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Iowa state estimate).

Ankeny median rent
$1,520/mo
Bus Driver salary (Iowa)
$47,674/yr
Rent as % of income
38.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,973, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,192/mo in rent. Ankeny's median rent of $1,520 exceeds that threshold by $328/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 66.3 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a bus driver salary

Transit bus driver pay sits near the US median household income, with municipal and unionized routes often paying more. At the national-average bus driver salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,296 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Iowa cities have lower median rent than Ankeny, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Altoona, IA
$1,519/mo (38.2% of income)
Altoona, IA
$1,518/mo (38.2% of income)
Waukee, IA
$1,509/mo (38% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Ankeny

View full rent data for Ankeny, IA

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Ankeny, IA?

Median rent in Ankeny is $1,520 a month. A typical bus driver in Iowa earns about $47,674 a year, which makes that rent 38.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a bus driver afford in Ankeny?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Iowa (~$47,674/yr) supports up to $1,192 a month in rent. Ankeny's current median rent is $1,520/mo, which is $328/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a bus driver work to cover rent in Ankeny?

At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, a bus driver in Iowa works roughly 66.3 hours a month to cover Ankeny's median rent of $1,520.

Where is rent cheaper than Ankeny for a bus driver?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Altoona ($1,519/mo), Altoona ($1,518/mo), Waukee ($1,509/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Iowa state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Ankeny, IA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.