Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Clinton, IA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 17% of gross income.

Clinton rent: April 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Iowa state estimate).

Clinton median rent
$792/mo
Carpenter salary (Iowa)
$56,065/yr
Rent as % of income
17%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,672, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,402/mo in rent. Clinton's median rent of $792 leaves roughly $610/mo of headroom under that threshold. A carpenter works roughly 29.4 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a carpenter salary

Carpenter pay sits modestly above the US median household income and covers comfortable rent in most lower- and mid-cost metros. Union carpenters in high-cost cities often earn well above the BLS mean. At the national-average carpenter salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,524 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Iowa cities have lower median rent than Clinton, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Newton, IA
$788/mo (16.9% of income)
Boone, IA
$786/mo (16.8% of income)
Boone, IA
$771/mo (16.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Clinton

View full rent data for Clinton, IA

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Clinton, IA?

Median rent in Clinton is $792 a month. A typical carpenter in Iowa earns about $56,065 a year, which makes that rent 17% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a carpenter afford in Clinton?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Iowa (~$56,065/yr) supports up to $1,402 a month in rent. Clinton's current median rent is $792/mo, which leaves a $610/mo buffer.

How many hours does a carpenter work to cover rent in Clinton?

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a carpenter in Iowa works roughly 29.4 hours a month to cover Clinton's median rent of $792.

Where is rent cheaper than Clinton for a carpenter?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Newton ($788/mo), Boone ($786/mo), Boone ($771/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.

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