Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Newton, IA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 25% of gross income.

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

Newton median rent
$992/mo
Bus Driver salary (Iowa)
$47,674/yr
Rent as % of income
25%
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 $992 leaves roughly $200/mo of headroom under that threshold. A bus driver works roughly 43.3 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 Newton, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Burlington, IA
$991/mo (24.9% of income)
Knoxville, IA
$987/mo (24.8% of income)
Burlington, IA
$983/mo (24.7% 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 $992 a month. A typical bus driver in Iowa earns about $47,674 a year, which makes that rent 25% 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 $992/mo, which leaves a $200/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 43.3 hours a month to cover Newton's median rent of $992.

Where is rent cheaper than Newton for a bus driver?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Burlington ($991/mo), Knoxville ($987/mo), Burlington ($983/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.