Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Pella, IA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28.6% of gross income.

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

Pella median rent
$1,135/mo
Bus Driver salary (Iowa)
$47,674/yr
Rent as % of income
28.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,973, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,192/mo in rent. Pella's median rent of $1,135 leaves roughly $57/mo of headroom under that threshold. A bus driver works roughly 49.5 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 Pella, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Ames, IA
$1,134/mo (28.5% of income)
Des Moines, IA
$1,133/mo (28.5% of income)
Cedar Rapids, IA
$1,131/mo (28.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Pella

View full rent data for Pella, IA

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Pella, IA?

Median rent in Pella is $1,135 a month. A typical bus driver in Iowa earns about $47,674 a year, which makes that rent 28.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a bus driver afford in Pella?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Iowa (~$47,674/yr) supports up to $1,192 a month in rent. Pella's current median rent is $1,135/mo, which leaves a $57/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, a bus driver in Iowa works roughly 49.5 hours a month to cover Pella's median rent of $1,135.

Where is rent cheaper than Pella for a bus driver?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Ames ($1,134/mo), Des Moines ($1,133/mo), Cedar Rapids ($1,131/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 Pella, IA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.