Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Newton, IA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 24.2% of gross income.

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

Newton median rent
$962/mo
Bus Driver salary (Iowa)
$47,674/yr
Rent as % of income
24.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,973, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,192/mo in rent. Newton's median rent of $962 leaves roughly $230/mo of headroom under that threshold. A bus driver works roughly 42 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 Newton, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Knoxville, IA
$956/mo (24.1% of income)
Cedar Rapids, IA
$953/mo (24% of income)
Davenport, IA
$952/mo (24% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Newton

View full rent data for Newton, IA

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Newton, IA?

Median rent in Newton is $962 a month. A typical bus driver in Iowa earns about $47,674 a year, which makes that rent 24.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a bus driver afford in Newton?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Iowa (~$47,674/yr) supports up to $1,192 a month in rent. Newton's current median rent is $962/mo, which leaves a $230/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, a bus driver in Iowa works roughly 42 hours a month to cover Newton's median rent of $962.

Where is rent cheaper than Newton for a bus driver?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Knoxville ($956/mo), Cedar Rapids ($953/mo), Davenport ($952/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 Newton, IA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.